Niles asserts news organizations are still trapped by their nostalgic ways, that they can't develop new audiences or retain their existing ones as long as they fail to have a vision for what constitutes relevant journalism. As he sees it, the craft has done many things to hurt itself in a time of opportunities for transformation.
The essay from VonKaenel is part lament, part prescription, but its central point appears to be the need for economic reckoning by newspapers as they move ahead. He reiterates what many have said about the promise of the Internet and the lack of a good business model to deliver sustainably on that promise. He isn't of the view tomorrow's media will be hyperlocal; if anything, it might be less local but better tailored.