Rupert Murdoch of News Corp. (Fox News, satellite deliverer around the world, newspaper publisher AND owner of myspace.com) is quoted in a Businessweek article as telling his newspaper peeps to give readers paperless content or be ready to pass from existence.
“Rupert Murdoch has warned the media’s old guard to ‘change or die’ in the new age of media, where demanding readers want to consume a media pick ‘n’ mix – and are just as keen on getting news through paper and ink as on their iPod. “
It should be noted that Mr. Murdoch just celebrated his 75th birthday on March 11.
In a bit of twisted irony, my son is home from college on spring break this week. Much our time as a family has been spent watching the short live FOX TV series “Firefly.” The series was canceled with only 13 or 14 episodes in 2002 – created by Joss Whedon of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel.” The recent motion picture “Serenity” was a remarkable, belated return of the cast and storyline for many avid fans.
It is a fascinating look at the future where the earth has gone kaput, humans have spread out to other star systems planets and moons, “terraforming” what planetoids they find to make them livable – blending old tech (horses, cattle, etc) with spaceships and amazing future tech. On a raw, new planet, a horse needs less maintenance and is easier to fuel than, say, a car.
What is ironic to me — in the episode we watched last night, a flashback scene with two characters who have become fugitives in the show. In the scene, these two gifted and remarkble adults are shown as children, with their dad coming home from a long day work. He sits down in their family room to talk with the kids and read.
What is he about to read? A tabloid-style newspaper.
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