John Podhoretz, editorial director of
Commentary, was given a sneak preview tour of the brand new Newseum in Washington, DC, a nearly half billion dollar museum dedicated to the news industry, most especially newspapers. His
review of the museum itself, largely positive, morphs into a discussion of the decline and fall of the newspaper industry, almost an elegy. Because John worked as a newspaperman for many years, he has an insider's knowledge, which he combines with a historian's perspective on the industry's response to the challenges of television and the internet.
The next time I am in Washington, DC, I intend to visit the Newseum. But I must say that the timing of such a lavish structure could not be worse, when contrasted with the decline of the industry it celebrates. This is a very rewarding read.
