I have been reading the Boston Globe for about 30 years. In the last 2-3 years, they seem to be aiming lower: shorter articles, lighter articles, simpler vocabulary. I first noticed this when the Globe was acquired by the New York Times (some years ago, I forget exactly when), and it seems to have gotten worse. Is this just my imagination? Are other newspapers dumbing-down?
You say that like it’s a bad thing… 
Seriously, though, yes, I’d guess that it’s part of the Media’s ongoing effort to attract the oh-so-desirable “younger” market, who are apparently presumed to be unable to read anything more complex than liner notes.
I haven’t been alive for 30 years, so I don’t have your perspective, but even over the last 5 or so years it seems that newspapers have gotten dumber. I read my news online; the crap in the local paper isn’t worth 35 cents.
I’ve noticed that the Globe has slowly evolved a distinct liberal slant. The biases that it prevents might be responsible for the “dumbing down” you speak of.
Or it could be how it’s simultaneously localizing. I notice a lot of the stories are set up to be of more importance to the Eastern Massachusetts-dwellers than the other folks of America.
I have really noticed it with Time Magazine - so I switched to the Economist.
I can remember when the Akron Beacon Journal(hardly a world-class paper) took a poll around 1973. They asked the readers what they really wanted in the paper.
As a result, they went from possibly the best newspaper in Ohio at the time, to a typical rag, splashing a human interest story as their lead on the front page. You reallly had to dig to find important national/international stories on important subjects. They dumbed down.
lenin said
You forgot your smiley:rolleyes:
I continue to be impressed with my state’s paper, the Oregonian. While I am loathe to trust their writers about anything technical, they consistently are good about coverage of different issues, and not just the ones that sound good. For instance, the front page story today was about the Arthur-Anderson trial.
By using smaller vocabulary, it makes it easier for some of the lesser educated readers to enjoy the newspaper. They don’t have to know all of the words. By making it so, they get more people to subscribe. Even with some people unsubscribing because of the new form, they are outweighed by the others. Shorter articles are easier to fit into America’s busy schedule…we can read them between our other work. Although some of us may wish for more sophisticated papers, the world is motivated by money. $$$ And whatever is going to bring in the most money is what is going to be used.
I’m waiting for headline in The Economist that talks about the President promoting accelerated oil production:
BUSH PUSHES GUSH RUSH