Newspapers RIP at the New Yorker…again

The prospect of print news dying is starting to become something of an obsession over at the New Yorker.  This week, writer Jill Lepore tells the story of an earlier threat to newspapers, the Stamp Act.

Lepore argues that the Stamp Act made costs too high for most printers, forcing them to close shop, much as business pressures today are shuttering papers.

But, I think that’s where any similarity to today ends. 

Three centuries ago, government and other establishment interests had a vested interest in quashing the papers, which traded in opinion, sensationalism, and a smattering of news.  Colonists valued – and needed – this unique early independent media.

Today, the opposite is true. Newspapers are part of the establishment, often owned by huge multinationals and media outlets.  Government officials and policy influencers who use newspapers to test their opinions and make their images are among the few with a vested interest in the papers surviving.

Consumers, meanwhile, have turned to the Internet, an even more independent resource where they find…opinion, sensationalism, and a smattering of news.  And, unlike the print newspaper of any era, it’s all free.

But, there is a lesson in the model.  With just a few companies controlling the Internet’s “pipes,” publishers eager to form alliances with Internet providers, and officials at all levels pondering Internet taxes, we could be facing a 21st century “Stamp Act” of a cyber kind.

This time, though, the interests of today’s Ben Franklins and Peter Zengers would appear to lie with the Crown. 

So much for the Revolution.

Paperless receipts

One of my goals is to merge my wallet and my Windows Mobile phone.  By converting things like pictures to digital and culling what I carry, I have a pretty light load already: driver’s license, insurance card, Amex, ATM/debit/Mastercard, building security card, and a little cash.

Technology exists to turn these remaining pieces into electronic “cards,” and, slowly, we’re seeing them become available.

But, I still end up collecting paper receipts as I buy things, which I remove from my wallet each day, scan, and toss. Although it only takes a few seconds, I’d love to be able to eliminate it.

Enter TransactionTree, a new service that allows consumers to choose whether they want paper or electronic receipts at the point of sale.  If they pick electronic, the clerk enters their email address and sends the receipt to them on the spot.

According to the developer, the system integrates with existing POS equipment, so it would require little or not additional investment by stores.

Sounds good to me.

A post-advertising future of newspapers

Writer James Surowiecki has an interesting article in the December 22 New Yorker magazine about where and how the newspaper industry is going in the face of dwindling subscribers, diminishing ad revenues, and shrinking resources. 

Among his solutions:  Foundation-based funding and deep-pocketed investors.  (Hope there’s a “Plan C” out there…)

As I was reading the story, I was musing about the future of the New Yorker, too.  I had subscribed to the magazine (in print) for a long time, but gave up about two years ago when I decided: a.) I didn’t actually get around to reading most issues and b.) 95% of the articles I wanted to read were available online for free. 

Although I find value in the articles, I must admit that I probably wouldn’t be willing to pay for them, if the New Yorker went to a “paid” access model, nor would I consider going back to a paper-based subscription.

I may be their biggest fan and worst nightmare rolled into one.  Tough business to be in…

How paperless I am?

Last year around this time when I was doing a year-end computer backup and paper shred, I thought it would be interesting to find out just how much paper comes into my life in a year.  So, I decided that instead of shredding it throughout the year, I'd save it in an expandable file this year to see just how big the pile would be after a year. 

The results are below:

 

After 12 months, I ended up with a 3-inch pile of paper.  It includes everything I wasn't able to "avoid" -- receipts, insurance forms and policies, tax packages, a few things from clients, and credit-card offers.   Except for the credit-card junk, I scanned everything as I received it, so as soon as I do my year-end computer back up, I'll shred the pile.

So, what did I learn from this?  Well, I think I've reached the point where I'm as "paperless" as possible right now.  I've checked with several of my "paper sources" to see if I they can turn off the stream, but the answer, for now, is no.  For example, probably half is comprised of insurance policies and statements of benefits, but my insurance companies say that state law requires them to provide this stuff on paper.  On the plus side, with the economy tanking, the flow of credit card offers ought to be slowing down soon...

Another new tool in the digital lifestyle arsenal

As much as I enjoy having a 24/7 system in the kitchen, one thing that has continued to bug me is having my flatscreen sitting on the kitchen table. It's a small table, so even the small monitor took up a lot of room. Plus, it made the kitchen look too "office-y" -- I wasn't going for a second desk, just a way to access electronic data and info instantly.

I found a clamp-on swing-arm for the monitor, but, alas, the 2001-era 15-inch HP flatscreen I was using wasn't VESA compliant, so I wasn't able to attach it to the swing-arm.

Time to give up? Not a chance! Last week, I got a 19-inch Samsung Syncmaster 920NW. Fits great on the swing-arm and the wide screen makes viewing multiple windows (and the Windows Vista Sidebar) much more pleasant. Getting it up off the table also lets me re-claim all the table space, too.

Tonight when I was cleaning up, I snapped a couple of pictures. Here's what it looks like when I have the monitor turned so I can sit at the table and view it:

Here's what it looks like when I push it back to the wall so it's out of the way. (BTW, the cable you see in both pictures is actually a power cable, not anything to do with the monitor. For some reason, the kitchen outlets in this building are all halfway up the wall, rather than in the normal position closer to the floor. All the monitor and system cables are hidden.)

All in all, I'm pretty happy with it. I think I've been able to avoid an "office" look pretty well. What do you all think?

Metro search = Traveling light

According to today's Washington Post, security officers on the city's subway system, Metro, are beginning immediate random searches of backpacks, purses, and bags. Metro officials say that next week's election and the upcoming inauguration are prompting them to take additional security measures.

While it sounds like a major hassle and time-sink for many Metro riders, for those of us who are paperless, mobile, and a little organized, it should be no big deal. Armed with my PDA phone and a tiny key-chain wallet, I'm usually set for the day for meetings and visiting clients. With a few extra pockets in my coat, I can even avoid carrying a bag or briefcase completely, if need be.

This is a paperless time-saving advantage I'd never even contemplated before...