The American Spectator

John Dyslin br> Streamwood, Illinois /p>

I had never thought of the MSM as a political party, but the shoe does fit in many ways. Fact it fits so well, that considering the new mood at the FEC why isn’t there and investigation vis a vis McCain-Feingold?

But you know, I don’t have a lot of concern for their long term effects. Here is the reason why:

Knight-Ridder

New York Times Company

Hearst

Hollinger Intl

Every one of these publishing companies stocks is headed where? Right… in the dumpster. NYT has announced and additional 500 person cut in staff. If most of these cuts come from the national desk could it be that NYT might go regional? And if that is the case can they claim to be the “paper of record”? Hearst is in a similar situation on the balance sheet. Hollinger, parent of the Chicago Sun-Times, is in a nasty takeover bid and their cash position is down right anemic. Only Knight-Ridder is stable, due to their larger holdings in electronic properties, but even their stock is dipping.

You hear stories from time to time about the fear in the news room from many liberal pundits. The assumption is that the Bush era is fostering the fear. Sorry, but the fear is coming from 40- and 50-somethings looking at flat 401K’s, a flat industry and headcount cuts wherever they turn. They are facing the hard truths of their irrelevance. Welcome to the real world ladies and gentlemen. As a reader should I be concerned? Well if reports from Iraqi like those posted by Michael Yon or a Soldier’s Perspective are any indication of what we can suspect in the future from non-MSM providers, then no.

Could we expect improvement for MSM anytime soon? Well go to the wellspring of the MSM, Columbia School of Journalism. Read the Carey quote. “…Not the news business.” If not that then what? The curriculum vitae for the MSM concentration include such gems as Covering Emerging Communities, The Art of the Profile, and New York as a Foreign Country. The suggested summer reading is of particular interest for both its New York orientation and leftist slant. It is no wonder than this J school consider the fly over states a foreign entity — it is from their view. With such scholarship, the demise of the industry is assured.

p>We need not, Mr. Babbin, worry too much. When the Internet media and blogs have taken over as surely they must, we can all attend museums of the print media in places like N.Y., Chicago, and L.A. br> — John McGinnis