Last Call

[Commentary] Contrary to the contrived ignorance of media reporters, the future of the daily newspaper is one of the few certainties in the current landscape: Most of them are going away, in this decade.

The closing of a local newspaper matters more than the closing of a local shoe store for only one reason  -- newspapers employ journalists. I asked several reporters, editors, and scholars what journalists should do to get ready for the next wave of firings.

There were three strong consensus answers: first, get good at understanding and presenting data. Second, understand how social media can work as a newsroom tool. Third, get whatever newsroom experience you can working in teams, and in launching new things.

[Shirky is an American writer, consultant and teacher on the social and economic effects of Internet technologies.]