The big headline yesterday was longtime News & Observer columnist Barry Saunders is leaving. Agree or disagree with Saunders–and believe it or not I found myself agreeing with him more than I would think—he always made you think.

Note however the write-up announcing Saunders’ departure does not mention his nest employment destination. Could it possibly be that’s because Saunders does not that destination, probably because he did not know he would be out of a job when arrived at work that morning? (Trust me –it happens.) Meanwhile, Gary Pearce over at Talking About Politics weighs in:

So the rumor is that a lot of big names are leaving the N&O. And a lot of big changes are coming.

The biggest change: Reporters will be evaluated by their clicks. By how many online clicks their stories get.

Not news. Not scoops. Not great reporting or writing. Not solid, sustained coverage of dull things like government.

Clicks! Which probably involves sex or scandal or something equally sensational.

This is why those old-style readers who sat down to breakfast with their old-style print N&O Tuesday found this story on Page One: “This is why your Facebook feed is full of clues about finding painted rocks.”

Clicks!

But don’t blame the folks at the N&O. Or even their bottom line-obsessed owners.

They’re giving us what we (apparently) want.

Now, that’s frightening.

Rumor also has it that the N&O is eliminating beats and that everyone will have to reapply for their jobs. All I know is my hometown newspaper–which I started reading as a kid in the mid-1970s–continues its downward spiral, as do all print publications. I still walk out t the sidewalk every morning and grab my (adopted) hometown News & Record, my gut reaction when I first wake up is to grab the Kindle. That’s (apparently) what I want.