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Creative Destruction in Newspapers

Posted inCurrent Affairs2 Comments on Creative Destruction in Newspapers

Hardly a day goes by without a stark reminder of the the newspaper industry’s malaise. Today, to pick just one example, the Los Angeles Times announced it will no longer print a separate book review section on Sundays.

Predictably, the journalistic community responded with dismay. We’ve seen this movie before. Several past LAT book editors wrote a letter of protest in which they claimed this decision is a "blunder" which will lead to more readers canceling their subscriptions and that eliminating a stand-alone book review section is an "insult" to "cultural ambitions of the city."

Don’t these people get it? Newspapers are dying. Content is being unbundled. Cultural ambitions of cities are no longer channeled by the local newspaper. The world is changing. Yet, a considerable number of executives in this industry (and newspaper readers over age 60 in general) believe that newspapers in their current form must be saved — including a book review section alongside city crime alongside reporting from Iraq alongside Lakers and Dodgers news. Not so.

No one questions the societal need for high quality journalism. But — and this is key — there is no inextricable link between high quality journalism and a print newspaper covering a million topics.

My popular belief on all this is that the most promising category is "hyperlocal" news / analysis / coverage. My unpopular belief is that print still has a future in a big way, just not for metro daily newspapers.

Jeff Jarvis at BuzzMachine is the most intelligent blogger on reinventing journalism. I read him daily.

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De-Stress Tip: Playing Out the Worst Case Scenario

Posted inRandom11 Comments on De-Stress Tip: Playing Out the Worst Case Scenario

Here’s something I do which needlessly raises my stress: I too often ponder the worst case scenario after a situation is out of my control.

For example, I email someone important, and until I’ve heard back from him, I think about the worst case (“He hated it, forwarded it to his three VIP buds and ridiculed me”) or (“He’s not going to respond because he thought the idea was terrible”). This is not helpful since I’ve already sent the email.

While sometimes thinking through the worst case scenario can be helpful in getting us to do things we’d otherwise avoid — what’s the worst thing that can happen by doing karaoke in a club? I get a little embarrassed? I’ll do it! — it’s only helpful before action is taken.

I guess this is part of the larger idea of living in the present. We ought not obsess about the past nor worry excessively about the future. (There’s a difference between prudent planning for the future and counterproductive worrying; just like there’s a difference between learning from the past and “obsessing” about it.) In my email example above, if the worst-case scenario were to happen, best to deal with it then, in that moment.

The Best Phone Conversations Happen When Both Are in a Similar Physical Environment

Posted inTravel4 Comments on The Best Phone Conversations Happen When Both Are in a Similar Physical Environment

If you travel a lot you tend to:

  • Make a lot of phone calls while on the road / in airports / on-the-go.
  • Cherish any stationary time you do have at your desk as an opportunity to undergo some focused, uninterrupted work.

I’ve noticed a tension that arises when I’m traveling and call someone who’s at their desk, or vice-versa. The person driving tends to be more chatty realizing that there’s not much else he could be doing while on the road. Meanwhile, the other person, at his desk, gets anxious about spending precious desk time — when he can be most effective on his computer or talking to office mates — on a phone call.

To wit, my theory of the day: The best phone conversations between two people of equal status happen when both are in a similar physical environment with equal productivity potential.

Let European / Asian Airlines Fly U.S. Domestic Routes

Posted inTravel4 Comments on Let European / Asian Airlines Fly U.S. Domestic Routes

Earlier this month, United Airlines spammed its customers and urged us to ask Congress to reign in oil speculators, whatever that means.

If Americans are going to get together to ask Congress to do something about the dismal state of domestic airlines, here’s a better plan: Urge Congress to take the EU-US Open Skies Agreement one step further. Let’s allow any European or Asian airline fly any U.S. domestic route.

The Open Skies Agreement, which just went into effect, allows any U.S. or European carrier to fly from any city in the U.S. to any city in Europe. This ended exclusive lockholds on lucrative routes to London Heathrow, among others. Right away Delta and US Air and Singapore Air among others started serving Heathrow, creating more competition (and thus lower prices).

Imagine what would happen if well-run European or Asian airlines with a younger fleet (such as the Lufthansa Group which includes their subsidiaries like Swiss Air) could start flying domestic U.S. flights. They would probably focus on longer haul domestic routes and could immediately attack the weak U.S. carriers and their hubs (US Air in Philly, United in Denver, and probably Delta’s secondary hub in LAX which has been a disaster).

I’m not optimistic the protectionist winds in Washington would allow for an open market in U.S. domestic routes, but certainly if American citizens are going to try to do something on the lobbying front to improve airline travel here at home railing against oil speculation isn’t the answer. Encouraging Congress to allow the better-run European and Asian airlines to compete probably is.

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The one bright spot among U.S. carriers remains Southwest Airlines which announced a remarkable 15% increase in profit last quarter. Here’s an analysis of Southwest’s new boarding policy. To me it signals a renewed commitment to business travelers who are willing to pay to get a 1-15 boarding number. Consider this plus their re-modeling of all gate seating areas (each gate equipped with big fluffy chairs and more power outlets than you know what to do with) and it’s clear that Southwest will start winning over business travelers on longer routes, not just budget-conscious, short haul flyers.

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I’ve now flown the new airline Virgin America several times between SF – NY, LA – NY, and SF – D.C., and have had a very pleasant experience. They offer low prices with professional staff and good in-flight amenities. But it’s hard for me to see how they’re going to maintain the low prices in the long run (I’m assuming now they’re loss leaders). I would expect Virgin America to follow the path of Jet Blue, though I’m not familiar with their oil / fuel hedge situation so maybe I’ll be proven wrong. Still, adding hip window dressing like JetBlue or the failed Ted or Song experiments of United and American without fundamentally changing the business model (VA operates a hub at SFO and competes on the cutthroat coastal routes) doesn’t strike me as a winning formula to an industry in need of innovation.

Does Travel Make You Happier?

Posted inTravel7 Comments on Does Travel Make You Happier?

Tyler Cowen via Gretchen Rubin:

Travel is an interesting issue. It makes people deeper, and makes their internal mental stream much richer, but I’m not sure it ever makes them *happier* per se. It can be a lot of hard work and also some frustration. Still it is worth doing as much as you can.

As I’ve said before, for me, all the cliches about travel are true. It really does broaden you.