This year, as Axios points out, indeed was "a transformative year for the U.S. news media industry," notes Grumpy Editor.
The news and technology company reminds that "there were enormous business challenges, which resulted in an unprecedented number of layoffs, desperate product maneuvers and fire-sale deals," adding, "the economic outlook of the news industry is still grim heading into 2020."
Axios says "voters are starting to tune out political coverage, which for the past few years has been the news industry's biggest money-maker. That reality, coupled with an anticipated recession, has newsrooms on edge."
This year, it mentions, "was a particularly brutal year for older news industries, like newspapers, magazines, television and radio. Revenue for television was down nearly 4 percent this year, and for print it was down nearly 20 percent."
These challenges took a human toll on journalists and news industry employees around the country, observes Axios, and "by some estimates, nearly 8,000 people were laid off or lost their jobs in media in 2019. That level of attrition is on pace to be the highest it's been since the 2009 recession."
IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...
'HOLLAND' USE SET TO FADE. Going into the new year, the Netherlands is set to drop from tourist promotions its long-used alternative — Holland — as it seeks to re-brand itself. The nickname has been used for several decades.
GOLDEN STATE POPULATION GROWTH SLOWS. California’s population growth slows to a trickle --- the most sluggish rate since 1900 as residents leave and immigration decelerates. Behind it: fewer births, coupled with higher number of deaths with an aging population.
LONG-TIME SHELTER DOG FINALLY ADOPTED. Seamus, a nine-year-old pit bull mix, spending more than 2,000 days or more than half his life in a Fresno, Calif., shelter --- The Fresno Bully Rescue --- is adopted just in time for Christmas. The shelter aims to help bully breeds, like bulldogs, pit bulls and boxers, get adopted.
STUDY CITES STATES WITH MISERABLE CITIES. A Business Insider study finds the state with the most miserable cities is California, with 10 in the top 50. Taking second place is New Jersey, with nine, then Florida with six.
USS MISSOURI EYEWITNESSES SOUGHT. Organizers for a 75th anniversary event marking the end of World War II are searching for veterans who were aboard the USS Missouri where Japan officially surrendered.
WILDFIRES KILL KOALAS. Thousands of koalas in the mid-northern coast of New South Wales are feared to have died in the raging wildfires in that area that was home to about 28,000 of the animals.
NEWSEUM SHUTTERS TOMORROW. The glass-walled journalism showcase Newseum, after 11 years in operation in Washington, D.C., across the street from the National Gallery of Art, is closing its doors tomorrow.
And HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!
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