] HipMojo.com » Print to Web: Changing of the Guard

Print to Web: Changing of the Guard

On a daily basis, we’re too close to really pay attention, but the line between traditional, print media and new, online media is both blurring and becoming more glaringly different.

While Time Warner reports disastrous print numbers, from AdAge, via AlleyInsider.com:

“During the first half of 2007, ad pages dropped 17.5% at Fortune, 18.2% at Fortune Small Business, 25.7% at Money and 34.1% at Business 2.0.”

You read that blogs that started off as one-man operations are becoming more and more akin to the print businesses they are siphoning traffic away.

Case in point: today Marshall Kirkpatrick, a highly respected and liked writer leaves his job at Splashcast to join ReadWriteWeb, a blog I refer to as think-tank meets.  Kirkpatrick left his high-profile writing gig at Michael Arrington’s wildly successful Tech Crunch blog to join Splashcast.

So this initially begs the question: what gives?

Kirkpatrick explains his move here, succinctly saying that he prefers the life of a consultant and reporter more than that of a marketer.  I don’t think there is a greater reason than that.  Interestingly, on that note, Allen Stern has an insightful commentary on what Kirkpatrick’s impact was at Splashcast.

I’ve been blogging since 2003, but in this form since 2006, when I left my cushy job (read: pushed out of my cushy job).  I personally could not envision being only a dealmaker or a writer, I like both and have found a way of doing both.  Sometimes I have to shut my mouth even if I have big news, but that’s a trade-off I can live with and accept, cause it gives a good insight in what I do publish and think that ultimately readers accept that as fair game.

Print Is Dead - Long Live Print

I’ve never adhered to the print is dead talk, but increasingly, apart from the odd flight or “thinktank session” I wonder: why print?  I’ve argued that print should go free, as the only viable way to boost readership and get more ad dollars.

But I think - in the context of both Kirkpatrick joining RRW and Rupert Murdoch hinting at impending layoffs - one major reason why print might very well be heading towards death, is that a lot of traditional print media writers are going to start jumping ship to the very same blog-based publications: Paid Content, Tech Crunch, Gawker Media’s Valleywag, Read Write Web.

When News Corp. was trying to buy Dow Jones and Barron’s Eric Savitz was publicly voicing his opposition to the deal, I was going to pen an open letter offering him a gig.

Bottom Line:

Marshall Kirpatrick joining RWW is one small news item for traditional print media, but one giant storyline for its writers.

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Posted By: Ashkan Karbasfrooshan | Sep 14th

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