If newspapers are to make a comeback and compete with the online world, it will probably be with hard-hitting, incisive journalism like this: What's in your fridge? The feature is just what you'd think. The paper asks people what's in their refrigerators and shares the information with readers. Today's guest is Quinn Buckner, whose fridge includes peanut butter, ketchup, mustard and the usual eggs and also -- sit down for this! -- strawberry sorbet and -- gasp! -- both American and string cheese!
Whew! That was too intense. I must go rest a while now. I can't wait for "What's on your closet floor?" Or maybe that one is still being run by the focus groups.
Comments
Hey, if this trend continues, I'll be able to put TODAY's paper at the bottom of the bird cage! Who knew I had actually subscribed to a cage liner delivery service?
Just kidding.
As long as editors & managers have sense enough to put such fluff on the entertainment pages and still deliver all the news with a level of detail and analysis way beyond that available from ratings-driven cable news channels, newspapers will continue to be essential to many of us.
The best proof is, I think, that there will always be writers and investigators delighted to jump in and take over if need be, in order to keep a local paper publishing -- no matter the size, format, profitability, or circulation.
If we didn't have a serious newspaper, we'd have to start one.