The Wall Street Journal publishes an excellent commentary piece by Brian Carney, a member of The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board, about Craigslist and classified advertising.
“The Internet at large, and free classifieds in particular — and even beyond that, Craigslist free classifieds in particular — certainly pose challenges to the newspaper industry as far as being able to raise their profitability over time.” Many in newspaper publishing would consider that an understatement. But Mr. Buckmaster is sanguine: “The demise of the newspaper has been overstated.” Phew. I expel a nervous chuckle of relief. In Mr. Buckmaster’s view, newspapers would be better off being a little more Craigslist-like: Go private, eschew Wall Street’s demands for continually “goosing profitability” and give your readers what they want. Much trouble in the world comes, in Mr. Buckmaster’s view, from losing sight of that essential goal.
It is good to see a newspaper discussing the Craigslist phenomenon and classifieds more generally without the usual shrill and denial.