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Guess what? Newspapers are giving up.

Just about everyone has proclaimed the newspaper industry to be dead and apparently the newspaper companies themselves are starting to believe it. They are actually starting to believe that they have no hope, no chance and no more lifelines. This disgusts me.

Where does this disgust come from? Well, allow me to share with you a conversation I had with a telemarketer from a local newspaper this week.

Me: Hello Ross Simmonds speaking.
Them: Hello Mr.Simmonds, I’m calling from [Insert Halifax Newspaper Here] and was wondering if you would like to subscribe (blah, blah, blah)
Me: Umm, I don’t think so.
Them: Do you mind if I ask why?
Me: Well, I get a lot of my news from the web.
Them: Okay, have a good day — *Click*

What the #@%#!!

My thoughts exactly.

Two years ago, this telemarketer would have given me a run for my money – explaining the importance of the paper, why its worth getting and how easy it is to cancel. Heck, I think back two years ago and I remember being convinced into a 30day trial run with this same company.Today however, its as if they’ve completely given up. It appears that the web really did sneak up and blow their candle out.

There are only two things that can make me cringe in business; a company that is dishonest and a company that goes down without a fight. Now, I cant blame the company for practically throwing in the towel. But come on, if Rocky kept swinging with two black eyes; you can too.

Yes, it’s a possibility that the newspaper company has laid off so many employees that the telemarketers have no choice but be efficient. But its also a possibility that even the telemarketers are losing faith in the newspaper business model. If the latter is true, it appears were all sitting around waiting for the newspapers final breath. Waiting for that last beep……beep…beep…BEEP!!

I say forget the beeps and forget the life support. I say take a good hard look at the way things are and grab a defibrillator. And while you’re at it – show this video to all your telemarketers and pray that they step it up a notch.

Tagged as: Business, Business model, Newspaper, Publishers