What Digital Literature Can do for the Environment

The other day I was thinking about the positive impact digitalized literature could have on the environment. Given the amount of paper that goes into publishing production, it would make sense to think that sparing all those trees could do wonders for our Earth. After a little research, I came across a fantastic article from Earth2Tech.com. 

The article focuses on the rising number of e-book users, and mentions that according to a study done by the Cleantech group, every Kindle user averages a purchase of 22.5 books a year, or 168 kg of CO2. 

Emma Ritch, author of the Cleantech group report calls publishing 'one of the world's most polluting industries,' and figures that multiplying the numbers of one e-book user, by every e-book user, yields some very promising results. 

For the whole story, click here

For more on Cleantech, click here

A Dismal Perspective of Publishing

From May 25th to the 27th, New York City hosted the annual Book Expo America; three days devoted to all facets of writing and literature. Paul Constant, a writer for The Stranger attended that expo, and his expose is nothing to be comfortable about. Images of less-than eager publishing houses and old-timey writers left Constant feeling sober and unenthusiastic about the future of his industry. Additionally, he was made only more uneasy by the publishers who "bought smaller booths, and were giving away noticeably fewer advance copies of their fall lineups." 

Constant notes in the second half of the article that of all the tragically ominous transitions taking place, the BEA did yield two faintly shimmering rays of hope, domestically and abroad. 

for the whole story, Click Here

for more information on Book Expo America, Click Here

Starbucks; Everywhere!

As the future of print media is in a tremulous state of being, no one seems to wonder about the future of television journalism. Well, if this is any indicator of the future of the aforementioned journalistic medium, we have a whole new debate on our hands!

Stupid Comedy Central videos never embed properly :(

Click Here

Ominous Threat to American Journalists in Saudi Arabia

Any journalist traveling with President Obama on his tour of the Middle East has been warned by the Saudi government against covering any stories unrelated to the American president via penalty of imprisonment. 

Domestically, everyone is concerned with the 'death' of print journalism. I think we have bigger issues to worry about as news gatherers, such as the tyrannical rule pundits face routinely abroad. 

Here's Stephen Colbert making light of the harsh and unjust reality...

(I tried posting the video, but I'm facing problems :( so just click the link above)

Inspiring Story for Aspiring Journalists

Nigel Barlow, a 42 year old resident of the United Kingdom, and seasoned accountant, recently gave up that career to get into journalism, a self-proclaimed 'secret path' he had dreamt of walking down since his mid-teens. After twenty years of counting money, Barlow is now counting words, and he couldn't be more excited.  

Barlow figures the shifting journalistic landscape is opening more opportunities than it is closing doors. He sees the blogosphere and microblogosphere as a revolution fraught with new ideas, and he claims that though the traditional industry is dying, 'in its place, a new beginning is around the corner.' 

Some Wise Words, More of Which Can be Read Here

Barlow's Article on Journalism.co.uk

The P.I.'s 2 Month 'Post-Print Death' Celebration!

Last Sunday; just two months after the Seattle Post Intelligencer released its last issue and went strictly digital, the 'paper' held a celebration/conference to reflect on the past sixty days. The atmosphere was optimistic, given that the site's director, Michelle Nicolosi, mentioned The PI's 4.3 million new user increase, over one year. 

Critics of the PI's new look claim the online version has far too many celebrity, fashion, and pet pictures, and not enough hard news. As Eli Sanders, a writer for The Stranger (a still functioning print/online news source) puts it, 'it's worth noting that celebrity photos and pet pictures are not exactly a unique offering on the internet.' 

So what are the lot of unfortunate ex-PI employees up to now?

Click Here to Find Out

Or Just Go to This Website 

Thanks to Alexandra Kain for the tip

I love living in Seattle

Well, That Shut Me Up...Almost

Here is a fantastic article from Journalism.co.uk about the numbers concerning print and online news circulation from 2008.

As it happens, print news circulation increased by 1.3 percent this past year, however online readership grew by 8 percent, via a study from The World Association of Newspapers. These numbers, in effect, suggest people are simply reading more news sources; ultimately, a fantastic thing! 

However, I was discussing the article with my roommate, and he posed the idea that the population also grew larger in 2008, thus adding an unprecedented number of new, news readers to the circuit. This, is a good point...

What do ya think, do these numbers speak sympathetically for the amount of layoffs the industry has seen recently? 

Wan President dismisses print naysayers again, as global circulation rises