While I am normally a big fan of Real Sports, they totally missed the story here. The issue is not the Internet. Most good newspapers and sports sections were holding their own during the first 10 years of the Internet.
The problem is the ECONOMY. Anyone hear of the RECESSION? That's what has caused the big problems for newspapers. That was not even mentioned, not once in the report.
You can argue that Internet sites such as Craig's List, etc., have hurt newspapers because of the loss of classifieds, but the reason so many papers are facing debts and laying off people is because AD REVENUE is down, not because people are turning to web sites for their sports news.
Now, once the papers start laying off folks, slashing salaries and cutting space, good writers and columnists have bolted for other opportunities, and readers are finding them on line.
But, no one should know better than HBO, Sports Illustrated, AOL, etc., that the underlying problem newspapers face began with the economic downturn. People aren't buying houses, so they're not buying furniture or appliances, so advertising shrinks, etc. etc.
I can't believe how that wasn't mentioned.