Is the Pensacola News Journal dying?

What do you think? Do you for see the PNJ closing it's doors in the next few years due to lack of subscribers?

Out of the 30 houses on my street, only two that I know of still take the paper, the rest have cancelled their subscriptions.

The PNJ outsourced it's printing to Mobile, (again, Mobile never seems to have the problem with unemployment and no jobs like Pensacola...but that's another topic.)

From what I have been told, and correct me if I am wrong, to get the full benefit of the PNJ.com site you have to have a paid subscription.

So, are they on the way out?

I think the eventual outcome for a great many daily newspapers like the PNJ is a much scaled down online only presence that has no "subscription fee" and is paid for with advertising like most all other news websites.
I don't think either the print editions or the subscription websites can survive over the long run.
The daily newspapers will then be just another provider of news content and will no longer have the dominance they had for hundreds of years.
Changes in technology make that inevitable whether anybody likes it or not.

I think it's closest to slow suicide... the opportunity was to adapt. Instead they tried to maintain an academic exercise.

PkrBum wrote:I think it's closest to slow suicide... the opportunity was to adapt. Instead they tried to maintain an academic exercise.

I don't think it matters what they have done or what they might have done or what they will do.
In other words, there was no way to "adapt" the horse and buggy to the automobile age and there's no way to adapt this either. It will evolve into a niche just like the horse and buggy.

By the way, I see the same future for movie theaters.

I disagree... a local paper could have formed itself into an interactive service to the community. A collaboration that could spread news instantly that people right in town could benefit from. Think of all the things an app could do if you selected things you want notifications for and a way for you to provide feedback... crimes, traffic, sales, politics, concerts, weather... That would make a news company an integral part of a community.

PkrBum wrote:I disagree... a local paper could have formed itself into an interactive service to the community. A collaboration that could spread news instantly that people right in town could benefit from. Think of all the things an app could do if you selected things you want notifications for and a way for you to provide feedback... crimes, traffic, sales, politics, concerts, weather... That would make a news company an integral part of a community.

Sounds good on paper (no pun intended). If there's a demand for that someone may attempt to fill it. And if that attempt is successful I applaud it.
That's the thing about the technology. It no longer relies on the mindset found at daily newspapers to innovate. The door is now open to a lot more innovators because that innovation no longer requires the large capital investment the old communications technology (newspapering) required.

PkrBum wrote:I disagree... a local paper could have formed itself into an interactive service to the community. A collaboration that could spread news instantly that people right in town could benefit from. Think of all the things an app could do if you selected things you want notifications for and a way for you to provide feedback... crimes, traffic, sales, politics, concerts, weather... That would make a news company an integral part of a community.

You are right! Think of the possibilities!! People could place bets on where the next shooting is going to be and when the results are in, get them instantly!

OK...I am being a smart-ass here, but seriously, your idea does have valid talking points.

I think Bob is closest in prognostication in that it, like most print forms of old, are succumbing to its inevitable demise. Not because of its content but because of advances of technology and changes in the method of how we receive our news, local or national. In my own case I have in my own bookmarks probably as many as fifteen or so newspapers around the nation that I enjoy reading to get more of a sense of how other parts of the country view national issues.

On my own street I would say at least 70-75% of my neighbors get the pnj. I subscribe for weekends only but I still like actually reading a paper in lieu of sitting at my computer to read the local issues . . . . . but I do both because I enjoy reading I suppose.

knothead wrote: I do both

We're now in a transition period. Just like the one seen in this photo.
Notice there are BOTH horses/buggies AND the newer forms of transportation on the street at the same time (not only the streetcar but the wheel of an automobile can be seen at the far right).



But if we fast forward a decade or so and take a photo of the same location... well you get it.

I too "did both" for two months. Until a few weeks ago.
The reason I "did both" again was because I discovered a $10.95 monthly subscription rate for the PNJ from an online discounter which gave me all 7 days print edition and subscription to the website.

BUT, when they later told me that was only a "free trial" and then doubled the fee, I no longer "do both".
As with most everything, follow the money. And when you follow the money you'll find that I'm far from being the only one who will no longer pay the price for "the old" now that there are plenty of "the new" alternatives which get us the news for free.

Like this photo? Can you spot the changes?

Bob wrote:

knothead wrote: I do both

We're now in a transition period. Just like the one seen in this photo.
Notice there are BOTH horses/buggies AND the newer forms of transportation on the street at the same time (not only the streetcar but the wheel of an automobile can be seen at the far right).



But if we fast forward a decade or so and take a photo of the same location... well you get it.

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Perfect example and a great analogy Bob! A picture is worth a thousand words . . . . . thanks!

knothead wrote:I think Bob is closest in prognostication in that it, like most print forms of old, are succumbing to its inevitable demise. Not because of its content but because of advances of technology and changes in the method of how we receive our news, local or national. In my own case I have in my own bookmarks probably as many as fifteen or so newspapers around the nation that I enjoy reading to get more of a sense of how other parts of the country view national issues.

On my own street I would say at least 70-75% of my neighbors get the pnj. I subscribe for weekends only but I still like actually reading a paper in lieu of sitting at my computer to read the local issues . . . . . but I do both because I enjoy reading I suppose.

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If they lose the ad revenue from the buggy whip industry, they are toast.

Architeuthis wrote:Like this photo? Can you spot the changes?

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Yes I like the photo but because I am not a native Pensacolian the only landmarks I recognize is the Rex Theater and the hotel on the corner that I wish had been saved. . . . .

Thanks for a cool thread.

W_T_M wrote:

knothead wrote:I think Bob is closest in prognostication in that it, like most print forms of old, are succumbing to its inevitable demise. Not because of its content but because of advances of technology and changes in the method of how we receive our news, local or national. In my own case I have in my own bookmarks probably as many as fifteen or so newspapers around the nation that I enjoy reading to get more of a sense of how other parts of the country view national issues.

On my own street I would say at least 70-75% of my neighbors get the pnj. I subscribe for weekends only but I still like actually reading a paper in lieu of sitting at my computer to read the local issues . . . . . but I do both because I enjoy reading I suppose.

............................................

If they lose the ad revenue from the buggy whip industry, they are toast.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Your comment reminded me of the old Pensacola Buggy Works! lol

knothead wrote:Yes I like the photo but because I am not a native Pensacolian the only landmarks I recognize is the Rex Theater and the hotel on the corner that I wish had been saved. . . . . Thanks for a cool thread.

You are welcome. I was lucky enough to meet the guy who was in charge of the demolition of the San Carlos. I was able to salvage a threshold for one of the rooms and have it as a threshold at my house now.

I too wish they could have saved the hotel, but ....

Architeuthis wrote:Like this photo? Can you spot the changes?

Well the masonic lodge is directly ahead across palafox is the blount building.

The san carlos was razed everyone i know thought it a tragedy into days world i think the city might have purchased it, the abominable federal courthouse is now there a shining example of lunacy,

By the way i am from pensacola wonder if the author of this thread is too?

Gilmore furniture is on the east i think rhodes was there too. Palafox was divided then? I think this pic is about 1964? Oh the Isis theatre is there too.
Man i love this city for all her warts and shortcomings....

This picture is around 1948. The cars are not 60's cars.

surfnrg wrote:Well the masonic lodge is directly ahead across palafox is the blount building.

The san carlos was razed everyone i know thought it a tragedy into days world i think the city might have purchased it, the abominable federal courthouse is now there a shining example of lunacy,

By the way i am from pensacola wonder if the author of this thread is too?

I am not a native. I was transplanted here in 1968.

Dreamsglore wrote:This picture is around 1948. The cars are not 60's cars.

Correct on 1948. Actually this is easy to date because of the movie shown at the REX. Saigon was released in 1948.

OK. Here is another old picture. It too is taken in Pensacola. Can anyone guess what street somewhat locally famous street this is?

Architeuthis wrote:OK. Here is another old picture. It too is taken in Pensacola. Can anyone guess what street somewhat locally famous street this is?

Airport Blvd...?