Worse and worser news about newspapers

Michael Hirschorn of The Atlantic writes that maybe -- just maybe -- The New York Times could go out of business, or at least stop publishing a print edition, sometime this year. But the bad news doesn't end there: "In December, the Fitch Ratings service, which monitors the health of media companies, predicted a widespread newspaper die-off: 'Fitch believes more newspapers and news­paper groups will default, be shut down and be liquidated in 2009 and several cities could go without a daily print newspaper by 2010.'" Still, Hirschorn sees some hopeful signs that journalism may survive -- and perhaps thrive -- long after newspapers disappear.

The state of cinema, Part II

Commenting on a New York Times analysis of box-office trends, Jeffrey Wells opines: "The age-old old theory is that mainstream moviegoers are emotional alcoholics in normal times, but if the headlines seem more disturbing than usual their choices tend be more reactionary. Give them a film that promises some kind of agreeable emotional beer-buzz and they'll probably give it a shot. Give them a movie that smacks of herbal tea, strong coffee, mineral water or some other non-alcoholic ingredient, and chances are they'll either steer clear or adopt a wait-and-see approach."