I suppose this really falls under the previous category of free stuff, but I would suggest that newspapers follow the Oxford American and other magazines (and clothing stores; remember when clothing stores like Express put out CDs of the music they played?) and try putting together an annual CD of local music that would go out to subscribers only. It would coincide with a special section on local music, featuring everything from the super famous (Elvis, Britney Spears anyone?) to garage rock. That would be something for the marketing department to do. (We have one here but they don't seem to actually do much marketing.)
Under 30s - and as we all know by now, Bucky speaks for all Under 30s - love music and most cities of any respectable size spend a lot of time hyping their local talent. I bet CDs would bring in more readership than signs on bus shelters do. Then at the biggest papers, they could even host a concert, perhaps on newspaper grounds or nearby. It could be a big weekend affair, open to the public. Maybe it would take on a life of its own like that Down from the Mountain tour. This could be the next huge thing. I smell a Cohen Brothers movie...
Some other thoughts I had this week:
-Text messaging headlines to Under 30s mobile phones.
-Newspaper reality show on local or cable access TV, featuring the "real life" of newspapers (people will be shocked, shocked to find out that we don't run around like Meg Ryan in "Sleepless in Seattle" or Naomi Watts in "The Ring" and we don't have adventures like anyone in "The Paper," though we do drink as much Coke).
-Web chats with reporters, editors, critics, etc., like the New York Times does. Newspapers are horrible at creating virtual communities. They need to get some sci-fi, gaming geeks in to operate that aspect of the business and stop moving people management doesn't like any more over to run the online presence. They need to fully staff the online department because posting the print version on a Web site and updating with AP breaking news, ain't cutting it.
-Get some columnists that write about something other than politics and kids, unless you find the next Jon Stewart. Better yet, somebody please convince Jon Steward to write a syndicated column. We Under 30s need a little laughter with our carnage and coffee, please.
-For God's sake CHANGE THE FRIGGIN FONTS! Uniformity is not the sign of a good newspaper, it's the sign of chicken shit paper. You have all these fonts and never use them. You wanna know why there are companies that exist only to make the opening credits to movies? So people will watch them. So people will want to get to movies before they start. So people will fork over $8 to $12 bucks a pop plus popcorn and soda, even for "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous." Hell, they give an Academy Award for opening credits. That's how important it is. Jazz things up.
Seriously, Jazz them up.
Literally.
There is a font called Jazz.
Use it.
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3 comments:
Yeah...if people love celebrities so much, why don't we make our newspaper people news. Then people won't be able to read Roving Ricky's piece on the school board...Oh wait, they still won't care.
I like your free idea, but most people care less about their local scene than their local papers do. Which is why most local scenes suck.
That's why you have to put some famous people on the CD. Our music writer can find all these tenuous ties to artists who aren't really from here every time the Grammy nominees are mentioned. If you coupled that with good, local bands, I think you might even help build support for the local music scenes.
I think my idea of Jon Stewart's syndicated column is the most brilliant one I've had so far.
I think my idea of Jon Stewart's syndicated column is the most brilliant one I've had so far.
Um, you're real smart. I like you.
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