So does Ben Hammersley (op. cit.; ≈7:40 in video [iTunes]):
While we’ve been chasing the “conversation” thing, people have drifted away from news because they’re seeing the conversation as fun and entertaining but not very worthwhile compared to really, really good journalism and really, really good reporting. I think that the emphasis that so many organizations have had over the past few years of concentrating on opinion-sharing has been a massive waste of time and resources – and actually almost a cultural crime, because that time and resources could have been put forth to something that was, you know, much more intellectually rigorous, and would have kept the brand… known for its news, rather than known for… being a collection of mad people.