Ex-BusinessWeek CEO John A. Byrne confidently answered a number of questions in a post declaring why he is joining what he calls a revolution in the news industry. He discusses the decline of traditional models and asserts that their glory days are gone for good - predicting, however, that they will not completely die but fall in behind digital content.
One optimistic and encouraging statement from Byrne was that newcomers to the field have the advantage over incumbents. He sees “unprecedented opportunity” for fresh ideas. It only makes sense that a void needs filling – with crippling cost-cutting measures, layoffs, and closings, there is going to be a huge amount of journalism that will be left undone unless someone steps in to do it. There are many motivated and talented people out there who are willing to do it, and as Byrne foresees, there will probably be a countless number of attempts, of which some significant percentage will succeed.
I was particularly encouraged by Byrne’s comments on the future of print. Newspapers’ dramatic decline is clearly evident, but up to this point most of what I have heard about their future has been loose conjecture. Byrne envisions them taking up a supporting role, even predicting print spinoffs of digital outlets. This format makes sense. I’ve never been able to accept the idea of a future without the significant presence of print, however diminished. With its tradition, convenience, and practicality, there will be a solid demand for it for a long time. Byrne claims, “TV didn’t kill radio. Cable didn’t kill the networks. The VHS tape and the DVD didn’t close down all the movie theaters.” This is a simple yet intelligent consideration of history in an answer to the question of whether print is dead, and it provides a good context within which to speculate on the future of the medium.
I’d have to agree with most of the comments under the post in expecting a certain amount of success for Mr. Byrne. Talent coupled with this kind of attitude may be all it takes to make it in this uncharted media territory.
