When did the Chronicle website become a social rag?

Ya, Chronicle's front page has always been a trustworthy source.

 

did you forget their hip and urban marketing campaign from a couple of years ago?

ugh, i had one of their phone whores try to get me to subscribe because the paper would tell me what clubs to go to.

 

It's embarrassing that the Chronicle is our big news paper here. Thankfully I can get my news and entertainment updates from Clutchfans.

 

The pictures from the clubs are just a joke. Do other big city newspapers do that with their websites? I'm guessing not, but I don't know for sure.

 

It is not just your Chronicle. The SF paper (also Chronicle) has become a complete joke also. On the one hand papers are fighting to stay relevant in the new media age, and on the other hand, most of our culture would honestly prefer to read about celebrities and crap like that than an insightful, lengthy, well-reported piece on a complex issue. The trend isn't slowing down any time soon. I keep thinking of Robocop's vision of TV's future, if you recall. "I'll buy that for a dollar!"

 

Not sure, but I know the Wall Street Journal does. Here's Jeff Skilling and Rebecca Mark (of Enron):

 

The industry is evolving. Newspapers are trying to get 'hyper local' and emphisizing community journalism via blogs and stuff. Video, photo galleries are huge. This is happening everywhere. Print circulation is down, but online pageviews are up.

 

Most newspapers realize that social media is the wave of the future and they better get on board or be left behind. The Chron, to their credit, is on the front line of that.

I still think they feature blogs and social stuff a little TOO prominently for a news website, but they've done a great job integrating interesting stuff into a news format for the most part.

 

I don't mind it. It is only a link, if you don't like the social stuff there are about 234 links on the chron's front page to click on. I like it as I have complained that the only thing I saw in the paper was who killed who and who is getting laid off. Actually reporting on something going on in the community, a club, an outing, etc. is something different. I have maybe clicked on the club link/photo gallery 2 times (just to look at hot chicks), but I appreciate them doing something different.

 

Oh, I don't have a problem with them being there...it's the fact that it appears on the site as if it's a lead story that I think is funny.

 

News has drifted to being nothing more than opinions anyway

Rocket River

 

Yes people still buy newspapers...just not the Houston Chronicle.

One example:

What is up with the Sports section and the amateurism associated with it? Ok we get it, The chronicle just now got word of the interweb phenomenon called "blogs".

Megan whoever can't report worth a crap and is an embarrassment. Frankly it makes Houston looks 2nd class. I guess you can't complain when there is only one paper in Houston.

 

The people that leave those comments are so damn annoying.

 

The only internet news site I check is usually abc13's for weather and traffic. The rest is usually trash as I have to dig in deep to find some good news.

 

There's so many outlets for news and breaking stories now its hard to tell what really IS news.

The Chronicle like all the other newspapers would like to keep their long time business models. So they're simply giving the people what they want...which is a poor reflection on people instead of the news providers.

 

Many U.S. newspaper websites are doing this, not just the Chronicle.

 

The Chron by far is the WORST major online site. Their pop up, page turning and flying ads are annoying and out of control. I know they need to make a buck, but not that way.