About Me
- Shannon Tatum
- I am a graduate student at Jackson State University studying Mass Communications.
Death of Print
Is Print On The Way Out?
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The Decline of Print Media and Rise of Electronic Media
It is sad to say, but I think that the day of printed media, i.e. newspapers/news magazines is on the way out. Most people, even myself, access most of my news and information online. Why pay 75 cents or $1.50 for a paper when I can go online and access several? I still receive the Sunday paper but cost and convenience find me at the computer accessing news everyday. My concern however is that online editions of different printed media may not be as thorough as they should be because they are in a race to get information out as soon as possible to scoop competitive online editions. As the older generations who still get paper media leave this life, the younger generations who now access everything online, will more than likely precipitate the decline of printed media. Most papers are cutting costs and going online for this very reason. Is this a good thing or bad Do you feel printed papers and news magazines are still relevant? What do you think?
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I think that printed media will be a thing of the past. This is due to the rise of new technology, such as devices like the iPad and mobile tablets. Companies are now offering their publications not only online but in app format. Subscribers can pay less and get updates that will show up in the app and they flip through virtual pages on their iPad, iPhones and other devices. The cost of printing papers is a thing of the past and when companies realize that the vast majority of the population has the technology necessary to make paying for printed material irrelevant they will choose the method of distribution that will allow them to save money.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly right Ernest. When you think about it, paperback books may also become a thing of the past. With apps that let you download books and read them by turning pages with your finger, why would you lug around heavy books when you can upload them to your iPad? Technological advances are leaning more toward electronic media and away from pen and paper.
ReplyDeleteI agree that newspapers, books etc. are quickly becoming outdated. Its so unfortunate that the dying medium is leaving books to collect dust on the shelves in bookstores and libraries. Just think we can not only read books on our cells but conduct research on them as well. A lit review for a thesis can be done using my smartphone while I'm talking on it. How about that.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Judy and as an avid reader with books overflowing from my bookshelves, I can't imagine life without the comfort of holding a bestseller in my hands and smelling the paper and ink. But as media professionals, we have to keep current with the populations we are trying to reach and so learning and acquiring this new media is a must.
ReplyDeleteI agree with with your analysis of the future of print media. I recently took out a subscription for Clarion-Ledger and highly regret it because I have only been able to read about 1/4 page in total of all 24 plus papers I have received so far. This is mainly because I read my news online everyday and by the time I get home, that's stale news. Now some print paper companies are talking about charging a fee for reading their material online and I am not sure how well that will go over. I for one, will not subscribe to this and may just have to get my news (although tainted) on TV.
ReplyDeleteThat so true Almesha! Your point also brings up the question, How can newspaper companies survive without income. As we know, most income for printed newspapers come from advertising. Therefore, if the information is available online for free, how can they survive?
ReplyDeleteI believe to the end of print media is imminent but there will be an unrealized consequence of the majority of information being disseminated electronically. With print media, publishers had to take a stake in what they were printing and wanted to produce a valid product in order to stay in business. With electronic media, anyone can set up a blog, or rifle of a tweet via their smartphones. This increase in the supply of information will undoubtedly led to news being offered that lack credible sources or that is completely untrue.With electronic media the offers take less risk in making faulty claims and some might even be rewarded for peddling filth.
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