So, you’re reading a Blog…And of course, it’s the Pet of Mine Blog, the best resource for online conversation about your pets. Five years ago, you probably didn’t even know what a Blog was… Now, a good percentage of the public today is reading Blogs whether for enjoyment or for valuable information or their news of the day. Or to get more acquainted with other pet lovers. It’s all part of this social media wave. While it’s creating opportunities we never dreamed of ten years ago, it’s creating just the opposite for others.

The New York Times purchased the Boston Globe back several years ago for over one billion dollars. While it was a wise investment at the time, it has proven to be a disaster for the company of late and that’s why, on May 1, the paper of record in New England may be a thing of the past.

No less than ten major newspapers around the county have folded, gone to all digital format, trimmed staff substantially, or altered their operation to cut down on the number of days they publish a print edition. So what else is going on in this industry? Many things;

First, the demographics that was online using tools such as social media was pretty much the generation X and Gen Y age groups. Now the demographic of people using these tools is changing. People in their 60’s and 70’s are on Facebook, Twitter, Blogging and even getting their news from these sites. The ease at which you can access the internet has changed dramatically. Anyone with a blackberry or I Phone can get on the web with much more speed than they used to. Getting to the internet has never been easier.

And then there was the economy. If all of the above wasn’t enough to give the newspaper industry a run for their money, the economy crumbling recently has been brutal to the newspapers. People were already going to other means to sell items and advertise such as using the popular Craig’s List and other online sites so classified sections have been dwindling over the years. But now the big advertisers are pulling the plug on some pretty hefty ad budgets. All this seems to be the perfect storm for the newspaper industry.

So what’s going to happen on May 1 as the New York Times threatens to pull the plug on the Boston Globe? As they say, stay tuned.

By David Greenwood