Christian Science Monitor now online

As Americans finally go to the ballots today to possibly bring "change" to the White House, I thought I would get this post in about another kind of “change” before the calm before the storm ends this evening when the polls close.

There is big change in newsrooms across the country in recent years due to the digital revolution. The Christian Science Monitor, a great newspaper that, unfortunately, most people don’t read anymore is gaining a second life online.

From Market Watch:

The Christian Science Monitor today announces that on November 6 it will convene an interactive conversation about "The Future of Journalism". The live event will mark 100 years of Monitor journalism and feature a discussion among media experts, readers and journalism students on how excellence in journalism can be expanded in the digital age.

This event comes on the heels of The Christian Science Monitor's announcement on October 28 that, as of April 2009, it will shift from its current daily-print format to a multi-platform news organization with a 24/7 daily online publication, a weekly print edition and a daily electronic subscription product. With these changes, The Christian Science Monitor is leading journalism into its next era of 24/7 online coverage and true interactivity.

In the wake of downsizing and decreasing circulation at major media companies, news organizations are re-examining their business models and devoting greater resources to online coverage. Mindful of this rapidly changing media landscape, the Monitor has become the first news organization of its reach and reputation to treat its Web site as its primary publishing format, thus enabling its readers to engage directly in global conversations and to take part in the many innovations coming to the news industry.

While I am not surprised it would be the first newspaper to go down this route, I am very excited about this new development at the Monitor and glad to see some newsroom editors finally coming into the 21st century. I am going to view this conversation online Thursday evening to see what’s up.