"Headlines don't sell papes; Newsies sell papes"

So not true, Jack. So not true.

As reported by CNNpolitics, "newspapers were flying off the racks" the day after election day. Or, what some of my friends have labeled, "Happy Obama Day."

The article goes on to state that:

"Papers all over the country found crowds of customers outside their buildings clamoring for copies. A one-per-person rule was instituted at the Times' headquarters, and customers were even buying damaged copies after supplies ran out."

Some even restarted their printing presses to churn out more copies. So what does this mean moving forward for the good ole boys working in what some have said to be a dying business? And on a local level, I have to wonder, how did the RTD fair?

I have to think back to Sept. 11, 2001 when I too was out to grab any and every paper I could find the day after 9/11 and the days to follow. It's owning a piece of history; holding it right there in your hands. And I suppose "saving a copy of a Web page on a disk isn't the same."

But true to form, as I'm sure many others did, I went back to getting my information online -- old habits die hard and as I'm sure we'll find in the coming months, change doesn't happen that quickly.

Almost a month ago Media General, owners of our local disgrace for a newspaper, reported:

"Total revenues decreased 18.2 percent, and newspaper advertising revenues declined 21.5 percent. "

and that

"Revenues declined 16.4 percent in Virginia ... Excluding severance from both years, Publishing Division expenses declined 9.9 percent for the quarter driven by an 11 percent decline in salaries, reflecting savings from staff reductions, benefits and profit sharing."

If newspapers are going to have a second shot at making it back to the top, or at least competing in the same realm as online news sources, there are two things they need to realize. The first, embrace local content. Take what is happening on a national level and make it local.

The second, embrace an online sister or partner publication. Not so much the way the RTD has done Richmond.com (posting the same exact story on both sites and linking back and forth. PATHETIC). But use online features to your advantage. Links, slide shows, videos, audio clips.

But as stated before, humans are creatures of habit and change doesn't happen because of one day's headline.

Also, read about the Washington Post's reaction here.