This is a collection of various studies and other documents collected and saved during Howard Finberg‘s 40+ years in the newspaper and media industry. There are some common themes — how people use media and how the media industry needs to change. In addition, there are just some interesting bits and pieces. So much of the newspaper industry’s history is lost because there hasn’t been any focus on learning from our past. Rather, we look forward and ignore lessons learned by those who came earlier.
That is not to say that we shouldn’t change. Quite the opposite. The newspaper industry never changed fast enough; it never changed deeply; it never really liked change. As I write this in 2022, in a metro area without a daily printed newspaper, I look back to see so many opportunities missed, so many possible futures ignored.
On a slightly happier note, this section will also capture some of the whimsy of the bit and pieces used to create a newspaper, first in hot metal, then cold type and finally digital output. Items such as the editorial schedule for the Chicago Tribune.
