Why many no longer read the New York Times, or TIME Magazine, or Newsweek

One could add in others like the Washington Post, or the Boston Globe, or the LA Times.

There was a time when a citizen seeking to be informed could expect news and information from these sources. Now, much like similar content from NPR, PBS, and BBC, many citizens don’t want to take the time to try filter out editorials and diatribe from our old faithful, now less faithful, news sources. In this citizen’s case it is not laziness, nor putting one’s head in the sand like the story of an ostrich. Rather it is a case of believing online reading, i.e., clicking on a story, equals income for these dinosaurs. And this citizen wants to do his part in advancing their demise sooner rather than later.

What is frustrating is that they (whoever they are) ran many off. We did not leave on our own.

The politics cannot be denied, or ignored. Where did today’s media gain or assume media and political power? And why do so many fellow citizens still get outraged by the repeated obvious bias of much of the reporting? Why are they clicking on these stories that then outrage them, the readers? Do they think that the reading of the online stories that outrage themselves may be inadvertently helping the life support for these outrages?

Of course the corollary is why do so many media types and pundits think what they say or write is so important, or even knowledgeable? If they are getting paid for it, plain and simple, this most can understand. But in turn, why are those who read online stories by dubious sources who gain income by clicks, doing the clicking?

Perhaps there is a Paradigm shift going on. Perhaps Sun Tzu’s advice about knowing your enemy is balanced by today’s knowing your enemy helps online finance them? America is better than this as we don’t have political enemies, only political opponents. But we citizens still control this Country, and voting with our pocket books has a big influence in the news media, and entertainment, mostly Hollywood. An aggressive manager might force the issues, but most of us just want the news, or just want to be entertained without being embarrassed or uncomfortable with our kids and peers.

An astute builder of future business models will note this paradigm shift, and exploit it like a good American businessman or businesswoman should. In the interim, one can guess the present situation will continue. What a sad state of affairs for such a wonderful country. But there is much value in ignoring the main stream media types and present leaders compared with other Americans also stepping up to the plate. And certainly do click on them!

A future national leader will take sad to satisfied. America has always required leaders. Sadly, today’s business and political leaders in the news media and Hollywood and the presidential election are generally lacking, mostly in showing National Interest. And so many citizens no longer read the New York Times, or TIME Magazine, or Newsweek. Even media managers and media consultants are having a numbing effect on we citizens. These same citizens have better ways and people to naturally lead this most important country, and human experiment in success.