Chris Davis writes about the perceptions of the deaths of newspapers.

When writing about the death of daily newspapers, daily newspapers usually like to blame things like the Internet, increasing aliteracy, and a loss of advertising resulting from the latest economic downturn.

The complaints aren’t entirely without merit but are generally stated in a way suggesting that America’s media giants are merely the victims of terrible external forces, not their own horrible business decisions. Accusing the Internet of pulpicide, though, is a little like giving barbarian invaders full credit for the fall of the Roman Empire.

The article is excellent and you can find it at the Memphis Flyer.

From Richard Thompson on pay cuts for journalists in Memphis.

In his Feb. 5 column for The Memphis Flyer, Bruce VanWyngarden didn’t bury the lead.

“I just took an 8 percent salary cut — and so did almost everyone else here at Contemporary Media, Inc., which publishes the (Memphis) Flyer, Memphis magazine, Memphis Parent, MBQ, and various other specialty magazines,” Contemporary’s associate publisher and editorial director self-reported in the column.

It’s the first such pay cut in CMI’s history.

Some employees at the lower end of the pay scale took a 4 percent pay cut and the company also suspended its 401(k) matching program.

His article focuses on how journalists are taking pay cuts but he is also focusing on profit margins for the papers.

Honestly, every single person I know has taken a cut in pay in the last six months. But as Chris Davis points out, it sucks but unemployment sucks more.

Mediaverse talks about Twitter and how it can impact folks in the future.

Andrews wrote the tweet, an honest impression of Memphis, while on his way to deliver some digital evangelism about social media to the good folks at FedEx on Wednesday.

Someone at FedEx read it, took offense and, well, calamity ensued–online, at least–when that person sent a long reply and copied executive staff at FedEx and Andrew’s employer, Ketchum. (His bio)

Go see what they are talking about.

Interesting. Makes one think.

You have to read the whole thing to see what RT is talking about.

Black balloons and cupcakes in the offices of the Commercial Appeal.

by TheoGeo

In mourning six-years of not having a cost-of-living raise, and five without a contract, black balloons floated in the offices of Memphis’ only daily newspaper.

Image Credit: TheoGeo

And this is how the Internet can be of great value for journalists.

From Pesky Fly in Memphis who is headed to Kingston to cover the Coal Ash Spill.

Well, if not for the weather and automotive issues I’d be on my way to Kingston, TN right now. As it stands I’ll be leaving early tomorrow. One problem though: I don’t know anybody in that particular part of the state.

So if anybody out there in Blogtopia knows someone who lives near the disaster zone who might be able to provide some useful perspective let me know in comments and I’ll arrange for a way to get in touch.

Can you help a journalist out? Pesky Fly is a journalist for the Memphis Flyer. And, this campers, is a new (and might I add free) tool for journalists to enhance the coverage of their stories.