Going, going, gone…

You've heard me bemoan the death of magazines, newspapers, and other valuable things (radio? small software products) that we are killing by demanding and expecting them to become cheaper and cheaper, and eventually free. And after that, "gone".

Here's an interesting idea: make newspapers into non-profits, supported by endowments and fund raising, sort of like Public Radio and Television.

"Although the problems that the newspaper industry faces are well known, no one has offered a satisfactory solution. But there is an option that might not only save newspapers but also make them stronger: Turn them into nonprofit, endowed institutions — like colleges and universities. Endowments would enhance newspapers’ autonomy while shielding them from the economic forces that are now tearing them down." (from New York Times - News You Can Endow)

newspapers, free, opensource