Even so, I think your “may” needs a heavy dose of realism forced upon us by the nature of the news ‘business’. The idea that argues quality is the way with which to gain — or maintain — readership (read revenue) is only one outcome. It’s kinda the glass-half-full thing.

Unfortunately, if we apply the same formula with different variables, it may become a better return on investment for conglomerates to cut losses, and run from the news business.

(On a side note: hasn’t it felt, perhaps until recently, that private companies used to own newspapers for the same reason that billionaires would buy basketball teams?).

I personally hope online news will force publishers and editors to ‘get it’, and move on with providing better journalism.