If you were uncertain what the internet has done to newspapers read Shirky

Clay Shirky's post seems to have been the talk of the journo blogosphere this weekend.

It has had many mentions on twitter and I notice that it has had 677 saves on delicious.

The reason for its popularity is Shirky's examination of the business model that newspapers tried to create with the advent of the internet and the complete pig's ear that they made of it.

They not only saw it miles off, they figured out early on that they needed a plan to deal with it, and during the early 90s they came up with not just one plan but several.

he argues but none were successful

The unthinkable scenario instead began to unfold

the ability to share content wouldn’t shrink, it would grow. Walled gardens would prove unpopular. Digital advertising would reduce inefficiencies, and therefore profits. Dislike of micropayments would prevent widespread use. People would resist being educated to act against their own desires. Old habits of advertisers and readers would not transfer online. Even ferocious litigation would be inadequate to constrain massive, sustained law-breaking.

Now the unthinkable is here.The internet has broken the model for content that kept newspapers alive,ie that the barriers to entry based on printing technology restricted competition in news.Now there are few barriers to entry