A recent segment by late-night host John Oliver satirizing the state of the newspaper industry didn't amuse the head of the Newspaper Association of America, although some in business said the CEO needed to lighten up.

In the most recent episode of Last Week Tonight, Oliver spent nearly 20 minutes poking fun at the financial troubles plaguing newspapers and the sometimes bizarre business strategies media companies have employed to remain solvent. However, throughout the segment the comedian stressed the important role newspapers play in informing their communities and how good journalism isn't free.

"A big part of the blame for this industry's dire straits is on us and our unwillingness to pay for the work journalists produce," Oliver said. "We've just grown accustomed to getting our news for free. And the longer that we get something for free, the less willing we are to pay for it."

NAA CEO David Chavern responded the next day with a statement on the association's website criticizing Oliver's take on the industry, although he acknowledged there were parts of the segment he liked. Still, he took the comedian to task for offering no solutions to newspapers' financial troubles and instead making fun of the ways the industry has tried to recapture lost revenue.

"People want, need and consume more hard news than they ever have," Chavern said. "The core demand for the product isn't decreasing at all, and based upon that we will find our way to the far shore where the industry is thriving and growing once again. But in the meantime, there is going to be a lot of experimentation and evaluation of new business models."

"I would just ask Mr. Oliver to spend more time talking about what the future of news could be, and less time poking fun at publishers who are trying to get there," he added. http://bit.ly/2bbZLzR

Chavern's response didn't go over well with some editors and journalists, who noted Oliver's segment was largely a love letter to the newspaper industry. Marty Baron, the former Boston Globe editor who was portrayed by actor Liev Schreiber in the Oscar-winning film Spotlight, tweeted: "Newspaper Association of America statement re @iamjohnoliver show could not be more clueless."

Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan blasted Chavern for allegedly being tone deaf to Oliver's message. She noted the CEO had formerly worked at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: "He is not, therefore, a newspaper guy and it shows."

"And I, in turn, have a suggestion for Mr. Chavern," she said. "When someone hilariously and poignantly celebrates the industry that you are paid to defend and protect, you ought to laugh at the funny parts and then simply say ‘thank you.' Or maybe nothing at all." http://wapo.st/2b5zF2p

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