It’s starting to feel like a bad Quote of the Day calendar. We’re constantly encountering news about a newspaper that is scaling back, moving entirely online or shutting down completely.

Metro Detroiters are still adjusting to the idea that the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press will no longer deliver a print product to subscribers every day. In July we will bid goodbye to the Ann Arbor News in print as it slides into an online-only format at AnnArbor.com. Publications like the Bay City Times, Flint Journal and Saginaw News will cut printing back to three days a week. Salaries and benefits are on the line for employees at the Kalamazoo Gazette, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen-Patriot and Muskegon Chronicle.

Those newspapers that are still meagerly surviving seem to be gasping for breath. Publications like The Royal Oak Tribune and the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers closed their own buildings to relocate ever-shrinking staff members into other existing offices – in most cases those brick-and-mortar shops are many miles from the neighborhoods, schools, people and businesses these community publications cover. For close to a decade print media has been doing more with less, cutting staff and still getting a newspaper to your door.

We wondered, what kind of impact does this have at the community at large? Here’s what we found:

Bloggers will cheer. According to AmblerMedia.com online media stands to reap the benefits. As newspapers close, advertising online is expected to increase 129 percent over the next five years. See http://tinyurl.com/cf8xoj.

Communities could suffer. Blogger Douglas McLennan points to a study of the impact the Cincinnati Post’s closing has had on the city since 2007. According to the Princeton study, fewer candidates ran for municipal office, incumbents became more likely to win re-election, and voter turnout fell. Visit http://tinyurl.com/cddnve.

Readers claim they don’t mind. The Pew Research Center for People and the Press released weekly survey results March 12 that showed less than half of Americans, 43 percent, believe losing their local newspaper would hurt civic life. More people relied on television for local news than any other source. See http://tinyurl.com/agy3h3.

But the landscape of news will change. The loss and cutbacks in print newspapers means fewer reporters covering specific beats – fewer watchdogs overseeing government, fewer people to promote the arts and to highlight business openings. There will be far less in-depth coverage of news that impacts the community – like school closings and tax increases. Read what Blogger Tony Rogers had to say at http://tinyurl.com/ch7e7l.

We hope that sense of journalistic dedication, objectivity and unbiased reporting will translate, live and thrive online. How much do you value your newspaper?

With more than 11 years of expertise in the field of public relations and marketing, Publicity Works remains true to its mission – the relentless pursuit of results. The Royal Oak-based company has recently expanded its focus to include comprehensive publicity services for movie, television and video productions filming around Metro Detroit.

On the heels of the nation’s best tax incentive, with Michigan offering up to 42 percent in rebates for projects carrying a budget of $50,000 or more, the state has seen a rush of interest from filmmakers. With a well established a client base and solid reputation across the state, Publicity Works is fully prepared to handle unit publicity for these projects. Consider the following core competencies:

• We are in a prime location and position to connect producers, cast and crew with the media during film shoots, and to build public interest for these projects.
• We are focused on customizing a strategy to handle all aspects of media coverage, including the appropriate scheduling of interviews and set visits during film production.
• We have strong contacts in local, national and film industry media and can ensure projects are properly promoted and press coverage is handled in the best interest of the project.
• We offer a complete package including writers on staff and professional partnerships with photographers, digital filmmakers and online experts, making it easily to execute comprehensive press kits detailing cast and crew lists and interviews, a film synopsis and production notes.
• Our staff is prepared to assist in the creation of electronic press kits (EPKs) containing behind-the-scenes footage, still photography, interviews with cast and crew, and more.
• We blend both traditional and cutting-edge convergence media to formulate a strategy that best-suits the project at hand.
• Our clients included world-renowned DJs; promotion of the world’s largest annual free electronic music event; and some of the hottest nightlife spots and restaurants metro Detroit and Ann Arbor.
• We’re experienced in the production of television programs and DVD projects.

For more information, visit www.publicityworkspr.com or call (248) 691-4466.

The microblogging site Twitter has amassed some 6 million users in its few short years of existence. As avid Twitter users ourselves, we got to thinking – who else exactly is out there?

It seems to be a topic of some debate.

A recent post by Allen Weiss on Marketing Prof’s Daily Fix Blog noted that in recently speaking to junior and senior level college business majors – most of whom could be found on Facebook and LinkedIn – were not as familiar with Twitter. He said some considered it a waste of time or even “information overload.”

That seems to suggest that younger users don’t find value Twitter. And if you look to that age group to predict the future of social networking, it might imply that Twitter isn’t an important or viable a tool as we thought.

But we disagree – for two reasons.

First, Facebook’s deal-makers have been trying to acquire Twitter. Business Week reported recently that talks have stalled on the Twitter takeover, with Facebook reps offering $100 million andmore in stock.

If there wasn’t some evidence that Twitter would continue its massive growth, the price tag and negotiation wouldn’t have been there in the first place.

And if those numbers aren’t enough, let’s talk Skittles.

The rainbow-colored candy recently revamped its Web site giving credence to the microblogging social network. Visit Skittles.com you’re welcomed by a Twitter search page detailing all the current chatter on Skittles. And boy, has it got people talking and tweeting. Love it or hate it Skittles sees Twitter as its best bet to share information about its brand online.

Our take? Maybe Twitter’s early adopters aren’t coming from the 20-and-under crowd. But we’re willing to venture a guess and say those college students in question will have Twitter handles of their own soon enough.

Facebook might be the network of preference at the college level, but once out in the business world, we imagine these young professionals will find new and engaging uses for Twitter too.

For a site that can be used for everything from finding a job to connecting with peers to sharing news in real time, Twitter seems to have a bright future ahead.

We’re not cheerleading any one social network over another. We’re simply saying with as fast as the social media landscape is growing and evolving – perhaps predictors of its future can no longer be limited to any one demographic.

What do you think? Are you a Twitter fan – tell us why or why not. Or follow us at Publicity_Works.

The rules of public relations and marketing are changing fast. At Publicity Works we’re keeping pace with the latest developments and techniques in the field – whether clients have more traditional needs or are ready to Tweet their message out to the masses.

Through our ongoing research, we’ve witnessed the altered landscape of this industry and find it fascinating and full of new opportunity. That’s why we’ve created The Marketing Minute. Each week we’ll bring you marketing tips, tools of the trade and in-the-know advice for getting your business off the ground and doing the most for your clients.

In quick 1-minute viral video segments, we’ll banter about everything from blogger power to how to survive in a down economy. We’ll talk up the wonders of Twitter and social marketing and get back to basics by showing you how to “Be the Brand.”

But we’re not here to merely spout ideas into the blogosphere. We want your feedback. Tune in weekly at www.publicityworkspr.com and share your comments and suggestions with us. Social marketing and public relations are based on authentic connections and conversations. We’re all for keeping those lines wide open.