On twitter I follow JohnAByrne, Editor-in-Chief, BusinessWeek.com, Digital Journalism Advocate.

2 hours ago he reported this:

All 85 staffers at Portfolio magazine will be leaving Conde Nast due to its closure, writes BW’s Jon Fine. http://is.gd/cWUL

This is a mag I subscribed to eons ago as it was an exceptional show piece for artists and illustrators. I had a sketch published in one issue in the mid 80′s.

The cost of paper has gone up. The cost of printing ink has gone up. The cost of labor has gone up. The cost of retaining good talent and work team has gone up.

Meanwhile, readership was on the decline long before the recession for numerous magazines. PC World closed their Australian/New Zealand edition and office last fall. Several other magazines have either folded, cut out regional editions, or scaled back

Ten Major Newspapers That Will Fold Or Go Digital, An Update

Several newspapers have already folded. One analyst predicts 80% of daily papers will fold withing 18 months.

What this means to me is classified ads are going out as well. Seems like now, more than ever, is an ideal time to start building sites that are of directory type sites. Keeping them updated will also be necessary to ensure seasonal news and ads – push beach in the summer and snow ski in the winter.

It also looks like geo names are soon to be even more en-vogue. Something has to take the place of all that local, regional, and state news. Sure, the paper may end being an online edition. But some of these suckers are closing up shop PERIOD!

Just some food for thought to be learning or honing site skills. Know your market. An easy place to start is matches your personal interests with the locale you are in. If you have a favorite sport, past time, fishing spot, hunting story then share it. Start locally and broaden out.

It is hard as hell to learn something new and different.

Start out with and stick with what you know.