Re:What do you expect? (Score 3, Insightful)

I think there are a few reasons newspapers' decline does matter: 1) Sure, the paper editions are being replaced by websites run by the same publishers. But the ad rates are way, way lower online, and no paper has yet shown how to create enough of a revenue stream from online ads to fund the operations of the newspaper. I can't see any developments on the horizon that will make online ads pay all that much more than they do now. The Wall Street Journal is making it work, but with a (pricy) subscription. 2) Many online-only news operations don't really do very much, or any, original reporting (Slashdot included, of course). Much of the online news world depends on the basic facts (and many times, analysis) provided by people in the print media. If the Washington Post has to scale down because its circulation dries up, there'll be a lot less info for online sources covering national politics to work with.