welcome to the year 1500

Welcome to the year 1500

The latter-day Gutenbergs’ work is done. What will the future look like?

Thinking the unthinkable

• Clay Shirky argues we’re in a revolutionary era with no easy solutions

Thinking the unthinkable

• Clay Shirky argues we’re in a revolutionary era with no easy solutions

• It took many decades for Gutenberg’s pressto redefine the culture

Thinking the unthinkable

• Clay Shirky argues we’re in a revolutionary era with no easy solutions

• It took many decades for Gutenberg’s pressto redefine the culture

• No single thing will work, but many ideas might save journalism

An experiment winds down

• John Paton of Digital First Media tried to redefine newspapers

An experiment winds down

• John Paton of Digital First Media tried to redefine newspapers

• Project Thunderdome, DFM’s innovation lab, was suddenly closed

An experiment winds down

• John Paton of Digital First Media tried to redefine newspapers

• Project Thunderdome, DFM’s innovation lab, was suddenly closed

• Investors want their money, so papers are likely to be auctioned

The view from New Haven

• From bankruptcy and barbed wire to a sense of cautious optimism

The view from New Haven

• From bankruptcy and barbed wire to a sense of cautious optimism

• Some improvements, but more layoffs and slow progress

The view from New Haven

• From bankruptcy and barbed wire to a sense of cautious optimism

• Some improvements, but more layoffs and slow progress

• Register backs out of deal to relocate downtown near Omni

Future of regional dailies

• The New Haven Register may join the Providence Journal and the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester in seeking local owners

Future of regional dailies

• The New Haven Register may join the Providence Journal and the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester in seeking local owners

• Smaller papers should be cheap. But can local business leaders invest money needed to rebuild tattered brands?

Future of regional dailies

• The New Haven Register may join the Providence Journal and the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester in seeking local owners

• Smaller papers should be cheap. But can local business leaders invest money needed to rebuild tattered brands?

• On the other hand, if these papers can be operated without debt, they could enjoy a renaissance

Marty Baron’s listicle

• In speech on April 5, the veteran editor offered nine reasons for hope

Marty Baron’s listicle

• In speech on April 5, the veteran editor offered nine reasons for hope

• “I … choose to be optimistic because only as an optimist can I envision a route to success.”

1. We’re still here

• Not long ago, skeptics predicted the end for such major newspapers as The New York Times, The Boston Globe and the Los Angeles Times

2. New owners with money

• Jeff Bezos, John Henry and Aaron Kushner are bringing deep pockets and new energy to the task of reinvigorating legacy newspapers

3. New journalistic organizations

• Vox, FiveThirtyEight and Re/Code split off from The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal

• Entrepreneurial journalism, whether it succeeds or not, will accelerate the pace of reinvention

3. New journalistic organizations

• Vox, FiveThirtyEight and Re/Code split off from The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal

• Entrepreneurial journalism, whether it succeeds or not, will accelerate the pace of reinvention

4. New forms of storytelling

• Data visualization, lists, video and other innovations are leading to an audience that is more engaged with journalism

5. We’re better listeners

• Business challenges have made us more attuned to what engages our customers

6. New opportunities

• Legacy news organizations — not just entrepreneurial start-ups — are hiring people with technical skills such as coding or video

7. The rise of digital natives

• Young journalists grew up speaking the language of the Internet, and they are now moving into key newsroom positions

8. Strong journalism persists

• Public service reporting by mid-size papers such as the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel,The Sacramento Bee and The Boston Globe continues to make a difference

9. Optimism is necessary

• “There is no acceptable alternative to optimism”