Just go back to some papers from the late 1980s and early 1990s. You’ll see types of ads that you don’t see today. Those aren’t coming back.

And I’m glad to be here to call a clone stupid, although I think the true words were “easily detectable.”

Your first solution: Either ditch the false, easily detectable clone posts, or find a way to make them smarter.

“spent more time being clever with the actual copy they are slotted” — um, huh? There’s a true design dolt phrase. Just how should they “be more clever”? Change random quotes? Alter a few details? This suggestion sounds very much like someone who never reads past the first graf. And that sounds like a designer; their true longing is to spend less time on content. They don’t understand it, and they fear it.

Also, if we’re referring to outsourcing, I think design work is headed overseas, too.

Let me know when the clones grow some brain cells.

We need to embrace new technologies and new ways of talking with the community. And we need to be the premier source for local news, regardless of the medium.

Right now, the biggest problem isn’t having readership. Most readerships are UP compared to 10 years ago (when you count web + print). The problem is how to capitalize on that. I have faith in our friends in advertising that they’ll figure it out, though I realize there are many obstacles.

One bright side to suffering is that we’ll likely innovate like we never have before. I’ve seen some REALLY dramatic changes in the past 8 years, but especially in the past two. That’s a good sign.

Will we end up with the same staff numbers we had in 1998? Probably not. But we can be a robust industry again.

You’re all scared.

Scared of the NEW generation! Oh my God… Internet? What DO we DO? Calm down. Don’t get your undies in a bind. It’s quite simple: Editors and publishers need to stop some horrible trends going around. Here’s a list of a few.

1. STOP putting an emphasis on what the younger demographics want to read for news, and START giving them news. Put your popculture, pseudo-entertainment tabloid bull where it belongs, on the arts and entertainment sections. We have good news judgment and if globalization has done anything, it’s made us care about the world.

2. DON’T STOP putting credibility as number one on your list of things to do today.

3. STOP trying to be that old guy that says “cool” and “yo.” You know what I mean *ehem Tribune*.

4. And for GOD’S SAKE don’t sacrifice good reporters, editors and the people in your newsroom that aren’t afraid to say NO, for bottom line. If you don’t think your readership suffers on account of that, hang up your press badge and get a new lifestyle.

On behalf of future, idealistic, morally strong journalists PLEASE, keep the ship afloat. It’s one of those things that should NEVER disappear.

It’s what d[ream]ocracies are made of.

I’m just sayin’.

No, no and, sadly, no.

So instead of blaming designers or the Internet or evil trolls for the past, which we can’t change, what are we going to do about the future? Because that we can change, but it’s going to take all of us working together to find solutions.