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Re: E-M:/ Michigan Newspapers


Actually Eric, before you join the hordes of Americans who want to finger point because they are suddenly caught up in green fever,  you should ask a few questions first. My brothers employer, much like most of this nation, has sat in the fat basket of automotive related industry for a very long time. His employer is indeed very "green" from sitting around on his fat butt , much like most of us, and letting the SUV's flow flow flow...............and the work that has resulted from it.  He has no need to diversify,  hes set financially.

My brother , on the other hand, is quite skilled on the computer; he runs the entire pre-press department.  He could move on , but I would hate to have to see him do that , and lose all hes worked for, just because someone thinks "oh good gracious, now its time to be green!  Lets go Green! Lets have everything ONLINE!"  Please.  As if it would really make a difference at this late stage of the game.

You can suggest diversification, but lets face it, not many among us here in Michigan (or the USA for that matter) has stepped up to the plate and embraced the future.  If we look a bit further, we find...we are indeed a One Horse Country.

I have yet to see a demonstration for "Green Technology" or a giant group of people REFUSING to buy newspapers (for example) because they are not green.  People dont buy them, because its a younger crowd reading, and its easier to do it on the computer.  Its not as cumbersome and they have fallen prey to the fast fast fast lane.  No lingering over an article with cup of java in the evening....might miss something.  Joey might have a soccer game, or Heather might have one of her many activities to attend to.

Soon, people will be rushing to embrace the newest fake green thing. Like much like the rest of the walking dead the sheep will embrace the newest faux green tales and think they are do-gooders.  Too little, too late.

Heres a nifty little article from Rolling Stone, if you care to read it.  Better enjoy those newspapers while you can.

Edie Britt

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/16956300/the_prophet_of_climate_change_james_lovelock/print

-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Baerren <ebaerren@gmail.com>
To: wovenwoman@aol.com
Cc:
Sent: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:21 pm
Subject: Re: E-M:/ Michigan Newspapers

If your brother loses his job, and if he works for a company smart enough to have diversified away from exclusively printing newspapers, it's not going to be because people wanted to be "green."  It'll be because his employer couldn't raise enough "green."

On Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 12:08 PM, <wovenwoman@aol.com> wrote:
My brother is a printer.  I would hate to see him out of work because we want to be "green".  According to James Lovelock there is no point in the teeny weeny panicked green effort that we are putting forth now, we have crossed the point of no return.  Even if we have not, I love trees, but we can print on bamboo or other sustainable materials, such as hemp.  Hemp rocks.

It would actually create more jobs if we legalized hemp to be grown and used here in the USA, its a great paper replacement, and  it can be eaten ( high source of protein),  used for books, clothing,shoes,concrete reinforcement, plastic replacement, lubricant, car moldings,  rugs, laundry detergent, shoe polish, plaster, wood chip replacement,  the list goes on and on.

Edie Britt



-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Baerren <ebaerren@gmail.com>
To: Erich Ditschman <theriverdude@sbcglobal.net>
Cc: David Poulson <poulsondavid@gmail.com>; Sent: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:02 am
Subject: Re: E-M:/ Michigan Newspapers

I have a suggestion -- go Web only.

Printing the newspaper on dead trees requires the cost of maintaining and staffing a printing press. Pixels are almost free.  There are a few big papers -- the Christian Science Monitor -- who are already going this route (the CSM doesn't print a daily edition anymore, and sticks with pixels during the workweek).

It's not generating revenue, per se, but it is eliminating basically all of the costs associated with operating a newspaper -- printing press, circulation, classified ads, even management to coordinate all of those things.  After start up costs for equipment, marketing, and site design, I think you could fund an entire local news operation for less than $200,000 a year, almost all of which would be salaries for reporters, visual media specialists, and an editor.

On Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 9:52 AM, Erich Ditschman <theriverdude@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

 
David:
 
I enjoyed your column today and agree that the loss of professional journalism is a threat to our democracy.
 
Do you have some suggestions on how our news services can make money so that they can stay in business? 
 
Perhaps a silver lining is that we are saving some trees and polluting less rivers.  
 
Erich Ditschman
 
 


From: David Poulson <poulsondavid@gmail.com>
To: enviro-mich@great-lakes.net
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 9:17:09 AM
Subject: E-M:/ Michigan Newspapers

I wrote this for LSJ: http://tinyurl.com/5rsdt5
I'm posting here because I believe that it has particular implications for environmental protection.

dp

--
David Poulson
Associate Director
Knight Center for Environmental Journalism
Michigan State University
517 432 5417



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Editor and owner
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