New York Times Editor Bill Keller spoke Monday at the Chronicle of Higher Education's Executive Leadership Forum, delivering an optimistic, lighthearted address on the future of the newspaper.

Keller stressed that the newspaper is not a dying industry, but rather a transforming one.

"I believe in my heart that newspapers will be around for a long time," Keller said, though in the future they may not be identifiable "as that lovable old-fashioned bundle of ink and cellulose."

Keller was confident about the newspaper's role in the evolving media landscape. Blogs and news aggregators recycle news, Keller said, but they don't report: "Google News and Wikipedia don't have bureaus in Baghdad or anywhere else."

Keller also emphasized that budding digital media forms are stimulating innovation. Combining the Times' print newsroom with its web site staff, he said, has resulted in "an explosion of creative energy."

Quick to joke with the crowd of over 250 college and university presidents and administrators, Keller teased his audience about their concern for the future of higher education.

"At least you have endowments. Why didn't we think of that?" Keller said.

Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education