This argument fell flat for me as soon as I read that newspapers are the only ones left to hold the gov't and wall street accountable. Newspapers are corporate for-profit entities, and like all media companies they are owned by the people they 'report' on.

In the traditional sense, newspapers will not survive. I believe that independent journalism will survive, as people like me move to curated content services, and pay for valuable new stories. The way to do this is to combine the kickstarter model and the steam model. Small teams of topical reporters post stories that they want to write and/or pursue, and potential readers bid on them to do so. Then when the content is finished they can distribute it through a global distribution channel, like a Steam for news media content. You can bundle subscriptions from your favorite news teams, get the 'all inclusive package' get the just 'sports and gossip' package, or whatever else works.

Sure a lot of content will seep out there for free, but the kickstarter-like company can add value by explaining to people the importance of funding these teams. As teams get established they can get to a level of continuous funding, or at least for X # of months at a time, that way they can do indepth whistle-blowing type stories, without having to give away what they want to do in the original kickstarter.

I have only just started thinking of this, so I'm sure there are many holes to be worked out. Nevertheless, I do want this industry to 'pivot' into success because I do think they provide an important social good.