Two Good Examples of What May Be Lost if Print Journalism Dies

There were two great stories in The New York Times yesterday that were obviously produced by talented, experienced, well-paid journalists. I can't imagine an online model that would produce such stories, and it will be our society's loss if or when this type of writing and research is no longer done.

The first story is an important one: the story of homeowners in Florida who have stopped paying their mortgages but who are still happily living in their homes, because the legal system can't process all the foreclosures in that state. I had no idea about this practice, as I live in California, where lenders can initiate foreclosures without court approval. As the story reported, Florida and 18 other states require a judge to sign off on the foreclosure, and naturally, there is a huge bottleneck.

This story was interesting to me for its portrayal of the practical economics of several delinquent homeowners and how this situation affects the larger picture of housing, mortgage finance and the overall economy.

The other story was a beautifully crafted piece about the colorful tops that thoroughbred jockeys wear, called "silks." The "news hook" of the story was this week's running of the Belmont Stakes, but it was what they call in the media an "evergreen," meaning it really could have run anytime. The story painstakingly but smoothly traced the story of silks (they aren't made out of silk anymore), why they all look distinctive, how they are maintained, and most enjoyably, it introduced us to two sisters who live near Belmont and are the "Betsy Ross" of the silk-making industry. I just enjoyed reading it for the pure pleasure of it. And since I pay for home delivery of the print edition of the Times, I can do so guilt-free, like a public radio listener who pledges.

Let's be clear: The New York Times is not in imminent danger of discontinuing its print edition or firing its writers. But many other print media are so endangered, and that's where a lot of great writers, like the ones who produced these pieces, are employed.

Another thing: I'm no sentimentalist when it comes to print media, especially big city daily newspapers. I believe their owners and top editors have bumbled their way to the point we are at. But that doesn't change what will be lost.