The Detroit Experiment launches

Tomorrow it begins. The first of a series of news media experiments in an effort to stave off the demise of the American newspaper. The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News will published three and two days a week, respectively. Smaller editions will be sold the other days of the week in the traditional yellow and red news boxes. Subscribers will get full access to an e-edition that will have the look (but not the feel) of the newspaper. Others will get their hard copies delivered by U.S. Mail.

Michigan media companies are the petri dishes of several new models. The various Booth newspapers around the state will launch other experiments this summer.

Meanwhile, the technology is racing against the clock to beat the wholesale demise of newspapers in the U.S. New products that would deliver slender, lightweight devices that will get automatic digital delivery of news sites are on the cusp. The Detroit Media Partnership is committed to one, Plastic Logic, while magazines are putting their money on other products.

Good journalism, watchdog journalism, the kind that?s vital to the health of the nation (not Britney updates), will survive the turmoil. Ink, newsprint and delivery trucks maybe a thing of the past.

Here?s to journalism in the very best tradition, like the Free Press? series on former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his chief of staff. M.L. Elrick (a J-School alum) and Jim Schaefer, and a host of editors and supporting staff, did a tremendous job in the highest tradition of journalism. Long may it last.

Elrick and Schaefer will be honored with the first ever 1st Amendment Watchdog Award given by the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. Now more than ever it?s important to recognize and salute great journalism. The duo have captured every major journalistic award this past year. The big one is left?the Pulitzer. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Meanwhile, J-School faculty unanimously approved a new innovative curriculum?the first overhaul in years. Our students will graduate with the skills needed to be entrepreneurial reporters, flexible and adaptable to the ongoing changes in the industry. From here it goes to College and University committees. We hope for the official rool out at the School?s centennial celebration, April 15-17, 2010. Mark the calendar. This is going to be the event of the next century!