Ted Rall – three big fixes for the newspaper biz

And, given the recent cratering numbers at major seven-day dailies, we all know they need help, right?

Anyway, here goes three fixes that a lot of bloggers wouldn’t like:

• First: newspapers should go offline.
• Second, copyright every article in the newspaper.
• Step three: cut off the wire services.

I generally agree on all three.

Bloggers would howl about No. 1. If they howled enough, they’d pay a subscription.

A-list bloggers would howl about No. 2. But, if they’re making enough money, and newspapers form an equivalent of ASCAP or BMI via the National Newspaper Association, A-list bloggers will pay.

But, as Rall notes, Step 2 ain’t just about bloggers. It would kick TV and radio stations in the nads, too.

Step 3 would cut off the Googles and Yahoos, including the Yahoo that, er….

Carries Rall’s column every week!

Rall notes this wouldn’t work unless the NNA, or possibly, the AP Managing Editors, to force NNA’s hand, adopts this as official policy.