Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will our online newspaper, but the foundation is in place and the building continues without the costly burden of presses and limited day-old news. After all, newspapers are a dying breed, an industry in retreat, and nowhere is that more evident locally than with the pending sale of the Daytona Beach News-Journal. The impact is already being felt here with reduced local coverage of Southeast Volusia with the News-Journal's cutting back of its locally zoned Daily Journal reduced to three days a week -- Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. It may read "Daily," but that's only in the print.
Freedom of the press is something I've always felt was limiting in terms of really describing journalism or reporting of the news. After all, television, radio and of course, the Internet, are just as much the press as newspapers.
Those mediums, though weren't in existence, though, when our founding fathers wrote the American Constitution. I've never really identified myself as a member of "the press" as much as being part of "the media" or journalism.
I like to think of myself now as free from the press. literally. No presses, no paper. No waiting for news as it's happening is what we now enjoy with Internet-based media. The public benefits from news that is not only told in words and still photos, but also video, database polls and other such digital graphics. It's what's known in journalism as "multi media."
The press, of course, stems from the First Amendment, which reads: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
That was the 18th century -- old school. This is the 21st century, new school. And nothing represents new school more than Internet journalism.
Not only can readers absorb the news, they can respond to it, thanks again through Internet access. The perception of a liberal-minded press is being eroded through the Internet where Yahoo News is just as viable as The New York Times in news coverage.
As the Baby Boomer generation enters its twilight so are newspapers. Why pay 50 cents when you can get it for free on the Internet? Why wait for the morning sports section when the full story is available online in minutes, if not seconds.