The Tribune's bankruptcy may signal a trend toward a new kind of newspaper journalism

The Tribune Co.'s move into bankruptcy this week is the most prominent signal - but just one of many - that a tumultuous revolution in the news industry is accelerating. It's a predicament similar to that of the US auto industry. A long reliable business model is under threat. For newspapers, it's because consumers are migrating increasingly to the free content zone called the Internet, while traditional revenue from ads and other sources is sagging. Then come some unexpectedly sharp economic forces that have also hit car manufacturers: a recession, a credit crunch, and rising costs for raw materials. One difference, ironically, is that the media troubles are getting a lot less media attention than Detroit's bailout bid. But they are every bit as real. Media companies see the Internet as an opportunity, not just a threat. It has opened the door to new formats and a more interactive role for news consumers, and to more rapid updating of breaking news. But online, the business partnership of advertisements and news content hangs in doubt. "It's not really clear ... what the new equilibrium will be," in terms of revenue to support the labor-intensive process of news gathering, says Lee Rainie, who heads the Pew Internet and American Life Project.