I applaud the best tabloid newspapers that have often done wonderful reporting. But we are yet to see more such work that constantly drives sales and attracts younger readers to newsstands.

Some pundits have forecast that due to an Internet-enabled free fall in readership and ad revenues, most tabloids will become an endangered species in China within 10 years and only a very small number of quality newspapers will survive.

I used to shrug off such predictions as over pessimistic. Now with the mounting newsstand woes, I hope they are true, as there might still be a future for a traditional newsstand.

Sadly, people in the business do not seem to share the feeling. Last week, Lao Wang took down his notice for transfer. "There is no taker," he told me.