Comments on: Comics and publishing

By: alirambles

alirambles — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:12:37 +0000

I find this especially interesting given that our local paper almost cut out 50% of its comic strips a couple months ago in order to cut costs. (Readers protested and they ended up changing their minds). Comic strip artists are hardly neutral observers here–they definitely have a stake in the whole paid-subscription model.

By: wordlily

wordlily — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:22:48 +0000

I agree. Newspapers must stop considering their distribution method their product. If journalism (in the true sense of the word) dies, however, that hurts us all.

By: Ronnica

Ronnica — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:43:07 +0000

I’m not sad that newspapers are dying. I mean, really, they’re wasting a lot of trees (and I wouldn’t consider myself a conservationist) printing old news. They’ve got to find their niche in an alternative news world.

By: wordlily

wordlily — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:18:36 +0000

Yes. Both comics avoid any potential new business models, which is at least part of my point above. They’re just reiterating the old-school “model” that’s been in place and that is currently failing.

By: pcNielsen

pcNielsen — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:10:27 +0000

I thought the Non Sequitor strip missed the point to a degree. Yes, papers are offering free content online, but the websites can be ad supported. I understand that even with the ads the papers are losing millions; just that the strip seemed to avoid a potentially new business model . . .

. . . one that may or may NOT be realistic, but is still out there.