Dear In These Times reader,
Rumor has it that information - news, in particular - wants to be free. Sounds nice, but if the future is full of free news, how will journalism and journalists survive?
The industry has to find a way to charge for online content, David Simon writes in "Death of the Newspaperman." Simon, the creator of the acclaimed HBO television series "The Wire" and a former Baltimore Sun reporter, believes that if "high-end" journalism is to survive, it should look to nonprofit models - but be sure to "bite any hand that tries to feed it," especially the government's.
Read "Death of the Newspaperman" now.
NEWS and FEATURES
Fighting the Cloud Factory: Marisol Becerra dreams of a clean neighborhood and world.
Solidarity Reunited?: Unions rally around shrunken UNITE HERE as it takes on its former ally.
Budgets by the People: Participatory democracy, Brazil-style, is running into problems.
COMMENTARY
Block 'Em, Sock 'Em: "The nice folks in the progressive nonprofit world would never threaten to 'beat up on' Democratic members of Congress," writes Editor & Publisher Joel Bleifuss. "But maybe that's the problem."
The Stupidity of 'Smart' Phones: The world is wild for iPhones. But why are they married to AT&T? Megan Tady looks at what's blocking real consumer choice when it comes to "smart phones."
Republicans: A Threat to the Republic?: Robert Parry on the Palin resignation: "As Palin's bizarre resignation made clear, the GOP was excited over possibly handing the reins of power to someone clearly unstable and unfit for high office."
Finally: If you'll be in Chicago next Thursday, July 16, please attend our first-ever monthly "Hot Off the Press Party." We'll have copies of our brand-new August issue fresh from the printer, and staff and members of the magazine's Board of Directors will be schmoozing it up.
It's BYOB, and In These Times' office is at 2040 N. Milwaukee Ave., on the second floor. Stop by any time between 5 and 8 p.m.
Cheers,
Jeremy Gantz, Web Editor