Facebook, the newly popular but far from new social networking site has a ton of applications and events and groups and fan clubs in which to take part. Seriously, there have got to be at least a million if not more. Some of the invitations I've received include throwing Mardi Gras beads at people (sans the flashing), giving my favorite pieces of virtual sushi to people and even joining a Mob War. I've been invited to a plethora of 25-cent hot wing nights, jazz performances and comedy clubs. And, I am currently a fan of Thelonious Monk, Jesus and water to name a few of my fan club memberships.
Still, I was slightly surprised when I saw that three of my friends (all journalists), are attending National Buy A Newspaper Day on Monday. They are three of 62, 456 people who will be "attending" this event. Another 5,055 say they "might" be coming.
Who's behind the movement? Well, apparently, an Alaskan journalist named Chris Freiberg.
He speaks of his inpiration on Facebook saying in a message dated Jan. 15:
About 72 hours ago I was sitting here in my apartment in Alaska (and before you ask, no, I can’t see Russia from here), reading about the plight of the American newspaper industry. But what can one lowly reporter do to at least slow the death of print journalism, I thought?
The answer I came to, is this event, Buy a Newspaper Day, Feb. 2, 2009.
I understand that in the near future newspapers will be mostly or completely online, but as I wrote in the event description, my fear is that given the current condition of the economy and the state of the newspaper industry, many papers may just have to close their doors completely before they’re able to make that transition.
Consider this one last great statement to try and boost readership and get people back in the habit of picking up their local newspaper on a daily basis. Since many local papers already have low circulations, just a small boost could keep a paper alive for several months, or save the job of one hard working journalist. If we can accomplish that, I’ll consider this event a huge success.
If you haven’t already, I strongly encourage you to invite every last one of your Facebook friends to this event.
But don’t just think of this as a Facebook movement, but rather a movement that began on Facebook. A good friend of mine is putting together a modest Web site, www.buyanewspaperday.com to further spread the word.
It also looks like many of you have media connections. Don’t hesitate to link to this new site or the Facebook event on your blogs or newspaper sites. Produce pieces for your publications and spread the word. Talk to your editors, and tell them to start putting together some great features for the Feb. 2 paper.
Feel free to message me directly with any questions, comments or concerns.
Good night and good luck,
Chris Freiberg
...well, if I may be opinionated, way to go Chris! I'll be there.
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Newspapers are going to need a lot more than well intentioned citizens buying one copy of the newspaper. Newspapers have always been subsidized by advertising, and as long as the great minds of merchandising don't figure out how to monetize the product, a few copies here and there won't really make much of a difference.
ReplyDeleteSee what a few years in the field do to your outlook in life?