In that regard, he says, the smartest newspaper editors today realize newspapers’ long-term survival hinges on the ability to turn their publications into “print-digital hybrids.” By that he means complementing traditional journalism with audio and video, links to key documents, and interactive reader chat rooms, as The Washington Post is now doing. Again, a slew of Knight Foundation-funded projects point the way. They include:

• Digital newcasts for Philadelphia’s immigrant community that are distributed through a new citywide wireless platform.

• Online games that will inform and engage residents of New York City about key issues.

• An online environment which will let citizens interact with newsmakers as complex news stories evolve.