Mug Shots Are Cheap Thrills for Media, Readers

Journalism faces a challenge, but hardly a disaster

(NEWSER) - We know it’s coming, that day when print newspapers cease to exist, but it won’t be this year, right? Maybe, maybe not, Michael Hirschorn writes in the Atlantic, and it wouldn’t necessarily be a disaster. The New York Times is in trouble—it could default on $400 million in debt come May. “Sooner than most of us think,” the Times will be digital-only, Hirschorn predicts. More»

Online journos magnified one line to rack up hits

(NEWSER) - Why have reporters turned Hillary Clinton's RFK flub into a huge story? To generate online hits with more political gossip, John Harris writes in Politico. Sure, it's hot news to hear about, but if you watch the remark on video, it's "deflating," Harris writes—it's just a calm, analytical statement made deep into a 20-minute conversation. More»

Coverage getting narrower, not broader, new report says

(NEWSER) - The Internet is changing journalism—but not in the ways many predicted. Contrary to expectations that coverage would broaden, a new report says the news agenda is actually narrowing. The Iraq war and presidential campaign represented more than a quarter of news stories last year, while countries besides Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan drew less than 6% of US news, reports the AP. More»

Want a job? Avoid fine art, according to 'Daily Beast' list

(NEWSER) - Hey, college students: If your life plans include getting an actual job, you may want to avoid the stars of the Daily Beast 's "most useless" majors list. Majors are ranked in terms of employment, taking into account unemployment rates among recent and experienced grads, earnings, and likely job growth this decade. The list contains a few surprises—sure, fine arts won't get you far, but neither will hospitality management:

1. Fine arts (12.6% unemployment among recent grads; recent grads earn an average $30,000)
2. Drama and theater arts (7.8%, $26,000)

Rise of Web searching spells doom for clever newspaper headlines

(NEWSER) - Back in the day, "drunks with cigars wrote stories," overeducated wiseguys slapped snappy headlines on them, and some hours later, a newspaper appeared on your doorstep. In Internet time, that printed birdcage liner might as well be carved on stone tablets. "Call me a grumpy old codger," two-time Pulitzer winner Gene Weingarten writes for the Washington Post —don't worry, we will—"but I liked the old way better." More»