If you needed more confirmation the newspaper industry is undergoing fundamental change, you got it today. First, the surprising news about the Minneapolis Star-Tribune getting unloaded by a company that the WSJ.com says had been considered until now "a big newspaper believer."  Reason?  Apparently, they’re bigger believers in something else. The headline on the WSJ article tells it all: McClatchy’s Minneapolis Sale Aids Web Efforts. [This story may be behind a paywall if you aren’t a subscriber, or aren’t taking advantage right now of their free 1-month trial.]  Sure, McClatchy claims they did it for a tax benefit, and says the Strib has been profitable.  But drill a little further: print circulation has definitely been declining there.  And one wonders if their online businesses are picking up enough slack yet. I think we can assume no.  [Ed.: I’m curious what you think of their latest web efforts: Buzz.MN and Vita.MN.]

Yet all is not bad everywhere in newspaperland. On the positive side of the coin, this statement from the Wall Street Journal’s publisher earlier in the month shows that at least one property is livin’ high:

We hope to build on our recent increases in the number of individuals subscribing to the Journal, which grew more than 10% in the most recent circulation period — the fastest rate since 1980 — at a time when most newspapers and magazines experienced declines.

This quote comes from a piece explaining all the changes coming to the Wall Street Journal and its market-leading online site, WSJ.com, starting January 2.

Also, if you think newspaper readership is declining across the board, think again. Here’s one audience advertisers are hardly ignoring: Newspapers Are the Preferred Medium for Affluent Empty Nesters.

But for some great insight into the world of online journalism, and how it’s impacting the print side of the newspaper business, check out this interview Mark Glaser just did with the managing editor of the WSJ.com on his PBS.org blog, MediaShift: WSJ Gets Comfortable with Blogs, Wants to Boost Community.