King County Journal

The focus around the country today was related to the Inauguration, and for good reason. For different reasons, it's a significant event for people in the United States and around the world.

But my thoughts today also are on the challenges facing the newspaper business. Two years ago today, the King County Journal published for the last time. Unfortunately, it looks like we were just the beginning of a trend. King County featured three daily newspapers at the time. By the time spring arrives, there likely will be only one as the demise of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer appears imminent.

In Puget Sound's three major counties — King, Pierce and Snohomish — there were six dailies a decade ago. They were the Eastside Journal, South County Journal, The Herald, The News Tribune, The Seattle Times and P-I. Newspaper readers soon will have half those options. That doesn't include the bureaus The Times used to have on the Eastside and in Snohomish County.

Listening to coverage of today's Inauguration, I heard stories of newspapers selling out across the country as people wanted a memento of Barack Obama. Where will these souvenirs come from if newspapers continue to fold? Who will tell the story of corruption within government? Where does the laugh-out-loud cartoon that draws us into the thought-provoking editorial go? Or the coverage on the local schools?

The quick response is TV and Internet. But that's not the solution. TV has its benefits as a medium, but there are time constrants that come with a story. And the news is picked by someone else. Yes, the same holds true for newspapers, but we have the ability to choose what we want to read. The Internet offers its own constraints, particularly with advertising. It's not exactly efficient to print ads online.

With downsizing and decreased competition, the aspects that made newspapers great are disappearing. There just isn't the personnel available anymore to produce those award-winning projects that make a difference in lives.

As staffing levels decrease, newspapers also are becoming less local than ever. News holes are shrinking, which means professional and college sports take precident with little space to cover the increasing numbers of high schools in the area. And without smaller or medium-sized dailies such as the Journal around to staff those events every night, there isn't pressure on the large papers to cover them.

Newspapers might not be perfect, but they serve an important function in our society. Let's hope these trends begin to slow soon.

2009 is here

It's New Year's Day and Jenn and I received some exciting news yesterday. We've known for months that we're having a baby in June, but now know that it will be a boy. Kind of funny sitting through the technician saying "here's the feet, there's the arms ... here's the feet (again)" until she finally announces that "you're having a boy."

Reaching this stage is fun as we now can plan the room, buy clothes, etc. It should be busy around here as we approach the June 10 due date. I eagerly anticipate that day arriving.

Happy New Year everyone!