Bill Keller, Marissa Mayer, Gary Pruitt, Harry Chandler
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Infused with the spirit of American newsboys past, present and future, the ebony-inked young boy sports a baseball uniform, oversized shoes, and a can-do attitude. On the last day of his paper route, poised at the crossroads between old and new journalism, he pauses. His gaze is directed upward as he reflects upon his changing world.
This news carrier's right arm reaches down to protect his beloved newspaper, his passport to the American dream. As his fingers caress the familiar feel of the newsprint, many memories coalesce about the paper route inscribed in indelible ink on his mind and soul. He has traversed his neighborhood route hundreds and hundreds of times, delivering each paper always with bravado. The sound of a paper hitting every distinct driveway and porch reverberates in his memory. He fondly remembers each bump in the road. He recalls his favorite customer standing in his yard challenging him to remember yesterday's headline, favorite op-ed piece, and sports scores. He always prided himself in knowing today's news yesterday and tomorrow's news today.
This intrepid messenger of the future also holds the promise of technology at his fingertips. Slung across his shoulder, his messenger bag holds both newspapers as well as a computer tucked inside. He carries the same headlines with him in digital and print form. Mesmerized by the headline, Pressing Times, he finds himself at the center of a whirling debate. He himself part of an old tradition is armed with tools that are changing the media landscape 24/7. He wonders what will be lost as well as what will be gained as the route he knows so well is becoming digitized. The negative space beyond the bold red curve suggests the answer. The horizon for the new world of journalism presses against infinite skies.
