Putting Down Newspapers
Everyone needs their news, and wants to get it exactly when they want it. For me, if I hear about something brewing in the news from word of mouth, I’m online instantly reading up about it. It’s instant, and free, so why would I not use it. Now, there is obviously a huge amount of people that still read newspapers, however, how is that changing with online newspapers?
I would say that the majority of online news is free, and maybe some small subscriptions here and there. What I wonder, is why people don’t take advantage of these free news services. I completely understand that some are stuck in their ways of reading the daily paper, and don’t want to sit in front of a computer screen to get their news, but let’s face it, that is changing.
It’s no secret that the web is the best it’s ever been, and still growing. Everyone and every company wants to get something online so that you can always get information, whether you are at your home office, or on the go with your mobile phone. Now the change won’t be instant, but I wonder how the growing web will effect newspaper sales, and audience. Do you think we will see a dramatic shift to online readers who are putting down newspapers, and opening up a browser?
In my opinion, I think there will be a dramatic shift. No idea what kind of time frame this will be, but I already see it happening around myself with friends and family. I get links sent to me and referred to websites, and I can’t remember the last time someone even mentioned a newspaper.
And what will be more interesting to see, is the tension that could build between the ones controlling online news compared to the ones controlling the print newspapers. It seems as though the people working for a print newspaper could easily be stuck in their ways, and because it pays the bills, it’s natural that they don’t want to see their newspapers being shifted online.
On the other hand, there’s the online people who think it’s to everyone’s advantage that people be able to get this news when they need it, and not having to wait the next day for a paper, or even wait an hour for the 5 o’clock news. They want the “right now” news. I want the “right now” news.
No one likes to see companies downsize or go under, however, I just can’t see print newspapers being that successful in the long run. Could there be some kind of solution for them, in working with online news somehow? Who knows, but this will be something very interesting to keep in eye on over time. I know that I gave up on newspapers a long time ago. But that’s just me!
4 Comments
I dont read newspapers much anymore, but Id be sad to see them go if they did. I think a lot of their continuing success is due to giving people what they are used to. Can you really sit on a bus, or at the breakfast table and look up the news on a website? Furthermore, if you could, would you want to? There is something about the printed word has always been more appealing than the screen to me, and I dont think im the only one.
I’d have to second that, Steve. During academic periods, I take the CATA bus to work, and the State News is great for when I don’t have reading to do for class. Even now, I read the State News during my lunch break (I work at MSU Printing, so copies are always abundant), and I really enjoy it. There’s something more tangible about holding a paper in your hand–I feel like I really read things more in a paper. It’s just how things work; the internet is designed for skimming. Like John said, he searches for news in a very targeted way. Newspapers are the opposite–they allow the reader to mosey along the headlines.
I get non-MSU news not from TV or a newspaper, but from CNN.com, though.
I think you two have very good points, and to an extent I agree that I wouldn’t want to see newspapers completely go, however they aren’t what they used to be because of the web. Look how many handheld/portable devices are out there trying to get internet apps on them for people on the go. Imagine how much more convenient it would be for business people to just scan through headlines on a site and choose what they want to read.
And I never liked using browsers on a phone until I got the Motorola Q, and the browser is sweet on it, and reading websites is so much better.
So I don’t think newspapers will completely be gone one day, however, they are slowing down quite it bit.
Yeah I see where you’re coming from. I guess only time will tell. On a side note you’ve got one hell of a sweet phone!