My take on this is it's a sad day for many people and for the local sports scene. I myself am an a big fan of the newspapers and I am only 31. I fully understand the content quality wasn't what it used to be but we as a society are undergoing significant change in the way many many businesses operate and its for the good and the bad depending on which side of the trade your on. Nobody is really immune.
I do wonder why some of the sports writers in today's sports environment didn't write stories from a different perspective as opposed to generally writing the same pre-game, post game, practice day type analysis that's easily available on the team's website, NHL.com etc?? More interesting items like fitness, Q&A sessions with players, nutrition, more management and coaching etc.
As the newspaper business as a whole goes through a serious transition the simple fact is that MANY young people just dont believe they should pay for specific content when so much is available for free online. Its a fact! If its media, news, music, videos or sports that people try and find a lot of younger people just dont think the requrement to pay is indeed needed. Someone needs to produce this stuff and they aren't doing it for their health!
I have had this argument with many friends and their counter argument is "why pay this corporations when I can get it for free" but when questioned why my NEED for new jewelry, booze, food, electronics, clothing, a new automobile, legal services etc trumps my requirement to pay, they get all offended. When its their livelihood at stake and that of their families people get all worked up, no matter who you are.
I am not on the side of the newspaper mogels or anything, in fact I have some pretty interesting memories of growing up as a child and hearing my parents complain about the crazy cost of throwing tiny little ads in the newspaper for $150-250 on a regular basis for our families business. This was many years ago but in today's dollars it was insanely expensive, hence one of the reasons why newspapers are suffering.
This isn't unique to newspapers. The "internet age" is causing all sorts of people to run businesses out of their homes, cars, online etc but with that carries much risk and a cost to society.
Business like Uber, Lyft, home and condo renting companies, food trucks, online news agencies etc have all transformed our economy in many good ways but with the lack of rules and clarity regarding certain things.
Should my condo unit be treated with the same level of fire protection as a hotel would be if I rented it to your family?
Should my quick online video course on specific medical treatment be sufficient to treat your family to specific cosmetic treatments in my condo, on my couch with my roomates in the same room?? You would be AMAZED at how many medical treatments are occurring by non-licensed or professional people at their homes. You don't hear about the consequences because people are embarrassed when things go wrong cause they look like morons.
What about a huge trend that's taking place in markets like Chicago, NY, Boston where "foodies" are gathering at people's homes for cooked meals that they pay for. What happens if you come to my condo, where I just finished performing a medical procedure mind you, and the family that rented it over the weekend left a mess, and I cook you a gourmet meal which you paid for. You have now contracted a serious illness from my lack of commercial grade kitchen and experience, I am not a professional chef, just a "foodie" who wants to make a little income on the side cooking.
I know my response got a little over the top but just some of the "news" articles and coverage I seen in both online and in newspaper print makes me shake my head. Articles on PM Justin Trudeau's socks, a front line story about his hairdresser. Where Graham James was vacationing years ago, how David Suzuki was "cheating" by using an electric motor on his bicycle despite being 70+ years old. Just some flat out garbage journalism. Just changing times I guess.
Anyhow, rant over! Back to Flames talk soon
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