Craig Newmark on Craigslist and the Death of the Newspaper

Caught up with Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist immediately after his panel organized by iWantMedia in Manhattan. He told me that while his company has had "an effect on newspapers," the notion that it has killed newspapers is "urban legend."New York Times media columnist David Carr was on hand at the event. After I spoke with Newmark, I asked David if Craig killed newspapers. He said the list shot the backend of newspapers" but didn't blame him.

Interviewer: You talked about the newspapers, “Craigslist has not killed newspapers.” Craig Newmark: We had an effect on newspapers to a large extent. It’s an urban legend. In a democracy, you just got to have a vital press with journalists asking tough questions and then getting answers. Interviewer: What are the next developments for Craigslist do you think? Craig Newmark: For us mostly it’s more the same, more cities, more countries, maybe more languages. That’s about it. Interviewer: Let me ask you about Craig, he said “Craigslist has not killed the newspapers, it’s an urban legend.” Is it an urban legend or did Craigslist killed the newspapers? Well I mean not that they’re dead, some of them are. David Carr: Well, they had shot the backend of the newspapers but if Craig wouldn’t have done that, somebody else would have. I think having Craig is—in having committed murder against. I think that’s overdone. Newspaper industry has significant audience problems that they need to address. They have nothing to do with Craig or Craigslist.