I have an idea for a book. 
        Premise: Daily newspapers are bought out by a giant retailer, leaving thousands of talented journalists out of work.
        I want to sprinkle parts of the book with illustrated post cards or emails from prominent journalists, describing what profession they fell into since closing up shop.
        Since I don’t have a clue how to write a book; I thought I would give it a dry run on my blog.
        I would be most grateful if some of you could play along and shoot me a fictionalized email, telling me what career you’ve fallen into.
        I’ll will keep adding on your emails until we finish this puppy.
        -Bill Lucey
***

Chapter 1: 

    Newspapers died on July 4, 2009 at approximately 2: 35 pm EST.; a day that will live in infamy. 
    That’s when CNN broke in with the announcement that Wal-Mart, the mega giant retailer had purchased all the newspaper chains in one mother of a merger: $800 billion.
    Joe Cutthroat, a representative from Wal-Mart explained the harsh reality of the newspaper industry, how the print edition isn’t being read anymore, and the internet, like it or not, the tall CEO with salt--and pepper hair explained, is the future; and the future is now.
        Cutthroat said that beginning Oct 1, Wal-Mart would be the sole distributor of news on a new site, TheDailyMart.com, where news would be regionalized depending on your zip code; there would be a wide collection of international, national, political analysis, sports, mountains of sports, and entertainment (with daily blogs from the likes of Madonna, Tom Cruise, and Rosie O’Donnell) all served up daily for readers who subscribe for annual $100 subscription fee, which will include discounts to Wal-Mart’s online shopping apparel, online food chains, and their new online inventory.
        Sadly, Cutthroat informed the viewers, Wal-Mart would recruit its own staff from other countries, some from within its own ranks; and some from, but certainly not all, from the talented and experience pool of journalists that have been put out of work.
        The end of newspapers was predicted, anticipated; and now it came.
        It was officially over. Print newspapers had run their course.
         Mickey Masthead, 52, a general assignment reporter with New York Morning Breakfast Counter took the news harder than most. He had first walked into the Breakfast Counter in 1976 as head-in-the-clouds editorial clerk in the Sports Department, eventually advancing to night cops reporter.
        Gradually, the night shift turned into a day job when he became general assignment reporter; and though he was seasoned writer and could write a griping lead like the best of them, this overweight pugged faced Irishman, never longed to move to any lofty editor’s desk job. He was a gumshoe reporter and would be a writer until the day he dropped.
        So now, Masthead wondered, what would be his next move, now that there was no newspaper to move on to? The internet jobs, he knew all too well, would be limited to the younger writers; he always seemed to stumble on his words; his thoughts often rambled in different directions-so he knew a television job was out. Besides, just the thought of the cameras lights bearing down on him made him sweat.
He thought about launching his own web site and blogging about something or other, but how would that pay the bills. And what would he blog about, and who would read it. Why does anyone read blogs to begin with, he mused
**

    Three months out of work and Masthead finally lands a job as head waiter at the Broadway Fodder, a swank bistro in the heart of New York City's Theatre District. 
        Actually, Masthead thought he was applying for head writer for a Broadway production, but since he was desperate for money, he accepted the head waiter gig.
    After a long day waiting tables, his knees beginning to buckle, Masthead spirits were lifted when he came home to find a post card from a good friend, a nationally known sports columnist, he used to read regularly.
 
    Dear Mickey: Since the total collapse of the newspaper business, I have been working as a substitute English teacher at my beloved alma mater, Jamaica High School. Fortunately, I saved my old copies of the New York Times, and I use them to show students what print journalism was like. They are  beginning to understand what was lost when newspaper stockholders insisted on more than 20 percent profit. It's a good lesson for them in corporate greed. In my spare time, I also coach soccer for kids, encouraging them to dribble and shoot and create opportunities. Maybe we will develop the American Pele or Maradona. I read a lot of books and never go near any of this blogging foolishness.
Regards, George Vecsey

                    -30-

To Be Continued....

Bill Lucey
billlucey@bellsouth.net