In this tightly argued analysis of the state of the newspaper industry in the USA, the conclusion that the effect of the internet is to reduce newspapers to their core competency – purveyors of ‘local’ news – is compelling.

If that is true, will the cutbacks in newsgathering operations at Trinity Mirror and other large newspaper groups leave their titles more or less competitive? How do they resist the temptation simply to pool news that is easily sourced but that readers simply don’t find relevant?

If you want a Trinity Mirror journalist’s view of centralised sports desks and the rest, it’s here.

An interesting observation made here by Jane Smith, taken up by another PR industry ‘thinker’, Stuart Bruce.

In my day, as they say, General Knowledge was a specific educational topic in primary school, with time set aside to allow pupils to develop their knowledge of the world beyond their own narrow interests.

Various prompts and information sources were placed in classrooms and corridors, designed to catch the eye and to stimulate the inquiring mind. Most prominent of all was a large Mercator projection of the globe around which were pinned newspaper cuttings chronicling national and international events, a coloured thread leading to a pin at the appropriate point on the map. The enthusiastic Scottish headmaster, Frank Evans, updated it daily with all kinds of news, portentous and quirky.

He would then conduct a weekly test of our knowledge with, as I recall, small prizes for those who were able to demonstrate their knowledge – and understanding – of the Cuban Missile Crisis and other great events of the time. It was a shameless rip-off of BBC TV’s Top of the Form hosted by Paddy Feeny.

I owe my interest in current affairs – and a subsequent career in journalism - to Mr Evans. But when I force my teenagers to watch University Challenge, it’s clear that they are only humouring me ... and holding out for Big Brother.

The Bristol Evening Post reports that tourists have been flocking to Weston-super-Mare since fire destroyed the pavilion on the Grand Pier. Seaside towns have always needed a novelty attraction but this is surely taking things a little too far.

Of course, in Stanley Holloway’s famous monologue ‘The Lion and Albert’ he said as much about Blackpool, another seaside resort with a pier.

‘There was no wrecks and nobody drownded; Fact, nothing to laugh at at all...’

So I knew it wouldn’t be long before someone questioned whether all the anguished media coverage of recent weeks was entirely justified. Writing off Weston-super-Mare as “a townlet of soggy mudflats to be driven through and laughed at” is a bit harsh though.