More than half of the former L.A. Times journalists surveyed by, well, themselves, say they expect their former employer to fold “and nearly as many think newspapers in general have been mortally wounded.”
The survey was conducted by The Journalism Shop, a Web site run entirely by former Los Angeles Times staff members. It calls itself “an easy-to-navigate site for finding highly skilled newspaper veterans interested in taking on freelance assignments.”
“Even if newspapers survive, several expected a much lower quality product,” the survey report says. “’Most papers will evolve into local rags with a heavy emphasis on entertainment and other “news you can use” and time-wasting blogs to keep people entertained,’ wrote a former male staffer, whose job was cut.”
“The poll was conducted among former Los Angeles Times staffers who are members of a support message group,” the site says. “Seventy-five out of 124 members responded.” Nearly two thirds said they’d like to remain in the news business.
Tags: Newspapers, projections