Nickname: John

Review: The age of quality local journalism in print media is almost gone. Ad revenues are down, ad margin is too low--and since newspapers and magazines are owned by publicly-traded, profit-seeking corporations--that situation spells disaster. None of this is news!--it's been happening step by step since the '80s. The news angle now is: What can local papers do to survive? What new format will work? I suspect the new media format that'll work--i.e., be profitable--won't be print media at all but "pushed" media on Internet portals and, especially, cell phones. And, in the not-so-distant future, wearable computers.

Date reviewed: Apr 14, 2006 3:11 AM

Nickname: Doc

Review: There are times when the heart says that economics should give way to a time-honored tradition such as the Merc. It would be truly unfortunate if the paper were not able to find a buyer for the group of eight. As much as we all would miss the paper at the door in the morning, the best opportunity to save the papers may be for them to find a private investment company willing to fund a venture into online publishing. A newspaper that could show a profit through online subscriptions and advertising might well be on the cutting edge of saving a flagging industry.

Date reviewed: Apr 12, 2006 7:49 PM

Nickname: roughtimes

Review: After losing ownership of our beloved and award- grabbing Courier Journal to a national and watching it be downsized and dumbed- down, I sympathized with the Merc readers. Don't go quietly into that (k)night. The chance to break free should be siezed by all of the loyal readers.

Date reviewed: Apr 12, 2006 5:40 PM

Nickname: Sally

Review: I would be very disappointed if the Mercury News was sold to a company that downsized the newspaper. I find the articles that I read on both local San Jose and Peninsula news and international news important in keeping up with what is going on in the world around me. The aricles are informative and well-written. I also greatly appreciate getting the high-school sports updates.

Date reviewed: Mar 27, 2006 1:43 AM