Earlier today somebody emailed me the following story about the potential of local advertisers to save newspapers.
I do believe there is potential there and because I’m at a Knight event I can’t respond in full. But I don’t have to because Seth Godin has taken the words right out of my mouth.
| When I first started talking about Permission Marketing ten years ago, marketers asked, “sure, but how does this help us?“ |
| A decade later, marketers look at Wikipedia or social media or the long tail or whatever trend is finally hitting them in the face and ask the same question. |
| Here’s the essential truth: |
| This is the first mass marketing medium ever that isn’t supported by ads. |
| If a newspaper, a radio station or a TV station doesn’t please advertisers, it disappears. It exists to make you (the marketer) happy. |
| That’s the reason the medium (and its rules) exist. To please the advertisers. |
| But the Net is different. |
| It wasn’t invented by business people, and it doesn’t exist to help your company make money. |
|
|
Related posts:
- Help Us Report on What Newspapers Are Doing to Change
- “How do we save journalism?" Conversation on FriendFeed
- The Future of Newspapers – May the Reporting Begin
- Ads are NOT the new tip-jar
David, need I point out that just because advertising won’t save newspapers, that doesn’t mean nothing can save newspapers! We’re working on a neat plan that would cut ads out of the loop while continuing to print a daily paper that provides a public service. Check out http://www.public-press.org. — Michael
And I 100% support your efforts (as in, I will do everything I can to support them).
Three cheers for any effort to save newspapers that thinks outside the advertising box!!!