I think the news industry is better than ever. Just like 50 years ago, you can watch the evening news on TV, or listen on the radio, or read the major papers (NYT, The Economist). My local paper is online now and charges a small subscription but it's still around. In addition, Google is constantly recommending me articles from hundreds of different news sites and blogs, some which are major operations and some which are just a single person. The tech giants have diverted ad dollars from the News industry but they hardly broke it...
If it's better than ever, then why are lots of independent businesses which earn their money via journalism are going broke at a higher rate than ever?
Best information today flows directly from people present on the scene where events take place, through social networks. Newspapers are just second hand compiling these direct reports. Investigative journalism is useful and I think it should be sponsored by the civil society (people and NGOs). Other forms of journalism (such as opinion columns) will be paid by the various special interests or ads.
