The same day the New York Times ran this depressing story detailing everything bad about the newspaper business – dropping circulation, constant management changes, drastic staff cuts, etc. – my local paper had a story about how bad sales were at major department store chains in December and January. Coincidence? I think not. As the […]
Asking the Hard Question – Top 10 Interview Tips
Not long ago, a writer in a freelance group I belong to posted a question on the group message boards. She had an interview scheduled with a subject who had a reputation for being grouchy and wanted to know how to prepare. It’s a great question. Reporters are thought of as thick-skinned hacks who can […]
Newspaper Business Sections: Going, Going, Gone
If you pick up the Denver Post and can’t find the business section, it’s no mistake. According to this item in the Talking Biz News blog, the Post is dropping its weekday stand-alone business section starting next week and folding business into the news section. The Post is just the latest daily to kill its […]
What Me Worry? Magazine Startups Venture into Uncertain Economy
With talk of a recession and a generally dismal outlook for print media, is it a good time to launch a magazine? Apparently so. At least three major U.S. publishers are working on titles set to debut in 2008 or 2009: the Wall Street Journal, Mansueto Ventures LLC, publisher of Inc. and Fast Company, and […]
Keeping Web 2.0 Safe
Companies use blogs and social networks to keep customers informed and employees happy. But Web 2.0 technologies can open the door to corporate spies and hackers, which is why if a company uses them, they also need strong security policies for protection. You can read more on the subject in my new story, Keeping Web […]
Avoiding Data Disasters
At my old newspaper, the main frame computer that ran all the newsroom writing terminals used to routinely freeze at 4 p.m., right when reporters were on deadline. When it happened, everyone popped up from their cubicles like Punxsutawney Phil on GroundHog’s Day. If you were lucky, whatever part of the story you’d written was […]