I was just reading a book review of -30- The Collapse of the Great American Newspaper, a collection of essays about the state of journalism, and noticed some comments about St. Mike's prof David Mindich. Apparently he contributed to the book.

Robert Franklin, who wrote this review, was impressed by what he had to say.

...the most interesting ideas come from journalism Prof. David T.Z.Mindich, who argues that solutions lie outside the newsroom and must"create a society in which young people feel that reading qualityjournalism is worthwhile."

Mindich would require more TV newsprogramming, including some for kids. If he ran the world, he'd alsodiversify newspaper and broadcast ownership, test civic knowledge oncollege-entrance exams and promote "meaningful" politics and theteaching of quality journalism. "There is even evidence that, despiteconventional wisdom, quality sells," he writes.

Not sure I like the "more TV news programming" part — I haven't watched TV news in years — but I think Mindich is on the right track.

That said, I think newsrooms need to do more to understand how young people (or wired people in general) communicate. Like, for example, understanding how Facebook works, and why people like it. Wouldn't hurt if reporters actually learned to USE social media tools themselves.

And of course all of you reporters out there are invited to join the Vermont Media group on Facebook. We're up to 19 members now, some of whom are actual, working journalists! Jeezum!