It is SAD, it is SURREAL, but it isn't a SURPRISE! We are experiencing UNPRECEDENTED change and no person nor institution is immune. It's time to go beyond reality and get virtual with it. My heart is truly broken for the men and women who worked for the Rocky Mountain News.
Final Edition from Matthew Roberts on Vimeo.
It is equally as sad for the thousands of journalists who will be next. They are lamenting over the Rocky Mountain News and tragically, they may be escorted out the door on Monday. It is time to face reality. I don't like it either but it doesn't mean it's not true. Newspaper print is expensive. Craigslist proved to be a devastating disruptive technology and that was NOT Craig Newmark's intent. The younger generation prefers video over text and the older generation is literally dying. Brick and mortar establishments are going to be difficult to maintain. I've mentioned Jeremy Rifkin's book, The Age of Access in prior posts. He talks about the fact that companies can no longer afford to pay for the real estate, the utilities, the staff, etc. Therefore, a new strategy is mandatory. I know people don't want to hear this right now. But this is where we are.
Pensions aren't worth anything, people are being laid off by the thousands seemingly every minute of the day, employees are not getting raises some are even having their salaries cut, health benefits are rapidly diminishing. It is time to become pioneers whether we like it or not.
Alright, I know this is much more than you can take right now. I'll give you the weekend to grieve the loss and yes, to lose a nearly 150 year old institution is an immeasurable loss. However, come Monday, it's time to get in the virtual game wherever you can.
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