When I was a teen and before, there was no Internet to find out Houston happenings. So you turned to the Houston Press or Public News. Both were free at your favorite inner loop hang out. The Public News was always way edgier than the Houston Press.Then one day, the Public News disappeared. Turns out New Times bought both the Houston Press and Public News and shuttered the latter.
Well now the PN is back. But from what I understand it is only an online newspaper. And get this, right now it is only available in a .pdf format!!!!!
So basically they are laying out a standard newspaper, not publishing it to paper and putting it online as a .pdf! Hey, I hear Microsoft is releasing a new browser to compete with Netscape Navigator. Wait a minute, it's not the 1990's anymore so stop thinking this way! (Although, I guess a Clinton will be back in the White House soon so that explains it.)
I think it's great the paper is back and only online. Newspapers are on their death knell anyway. Why waste money printing something when most people are going online? But still thinking in a newspaper mindset is wrong. Who will want to read a .pdf file? There's a place for that file type, but this is not one of them.
Why not start a Public News blog and publish the stories whenever they are written? Put the advertising around the template. Or at least go buy or make a content management system and put out a standard news site?
Good luck to the Public News if it continues in this manner. I am glad it is back because it was always an enjoyable read.
I'm not sure if the Public News' return will garner any support in the Houston blogosphere because most of the bloggers probably weren't here at the time to read it. CONTACT: Leave me a Houston or Texas media news tip | COMMENT: Click to leave your thoughts on this post here
