We all know the economic factors that are assaulting newspaper advertising: loss of classifieds to the internet, etc. But this post about the LATimes — and especially the comments following the post — point to a little-discussed reason for the newspaper industry’s loss of readership. It’s the relentless push for an agenda not shared by a large segment of its community. If, as one commenter puts it, 40% of LA readers are conservative and 20% don’t care, how can a newspaper survive trying to reach only the remaining 40% ? (Use your own estimates to translate those percentages to Dallas).
I bring this up because I had breakfast yesterday with a Dallas civic leader about a project, and he mentioned that the editorial board of the DMN is supportive. I was surprised at my own reaction, and I almost tried to cover it up. But the fact is, I winced. And it dawned on me for the first time while I was sitting there that the DMN’s support may hurt more than it may help.  That was an astonishing revelation to me. I realized then that I share the perception of many in Dallas that the “good” causes that the DMN supports are too often  “liberal” causes, that to DMN editors, reporters, and columnists the words are synonymous. And that’s a reason why I have come to pay less and less attention to what it says.
