Will the Newspaper die?

We may subscribe to the opinion that it is only an older generation, less fixated with technology that hold newspapers and its cumbersome form, in high regard. This may be due to the familiarity of it, or because of romanticised ideas. The question is, as generations grow older, and generations that we now call ‘elders’ are gone, will the internet be a primary source of media.
Kennedy (2007) writes in the Guardian, that newspapers will almost certainly be gone in five to ten years, apart from specialist publications, aimed at small markets.

Younger audiences, (18-34) are moving away from newspapers as important sources of news. It also to true to say that with the rapid development of technology, such as 3G mobile telephone communication, users are able to access news online at the click of a button, and on the move. As the level of technology increases, less of an importance may be placed upon the Print Media industry.

News companies rely heavily on advertising as a source of revenue, and just like any other business, are, driven by profit. Kennedy (2007) deduces that online advertising revenues (although small), are rising at a fast rate, whilst print revenues, although large, are falling at an equal rate. This makes it very difficult to see a future for the news paper.

In relation to profit, in order to generate revenue, the consumer must be satisfied - and provided with the stories that are most sought after. I feel that as a society we could well live without hearing about David Beckham’s latest hairstyle, or sensationalised reports of the latest footballer caught in compromising situations with leggy blondes. It is also true to say that the number of stories with shock value has increased, in substitution for pressing news stories that we as consumers would benefit from reading. The internet search engine allows us to search for exactly what we want to read, without a barrage of superficial celebrity tales. It is however apparent that certain print media organisations have made somewhat of an attempt to address this issue. For example, in Central London, publications like ‘the London- Lite’ are distributed for free. This is an attempt to provide it’s readership with more pressing articles on London life and economic issues. However doing this at a loss, is arguably a drastic measure, applied, to little too late.

Local news papers are also arguably set for extinction. With a rise in the levels of ‘young professionals’, many people may feel they have more in common with the UK as a whole, than they do with their neighbours, and are able to access global news at a much faster rate.
Another prescient factor, is that whilst Print Media is updated daily-
With a handful of publications being updated of an evening, - e.g. ‘The Evening Standard’, Internet news can be updated instantaneously.
In my opinion, another crucial factor is that news online is free. Why would somebody go out and pay for a newspaper if they could access the same information at no extra cost? Jim Hall (2001) supports this opinion in ‘Online Journalism’, deducing, ‘I think well look back at the golden age of the web, not because everything was exceptionally good, but because it was free’ (pg164)

The internet also provides innovation. Online news blogs provide us with a voice, and a sense of interactivity. Users are also able to communicate with like minded people, through online social networks. It is my opinion that the newspapers stand hard pressed to develop a way for its readership to experience the same level interaction, in order to stay afloat.

The following equation highlights that Newspapers cannot be justified financially with such a cost effective medium being developed more and more every day.

(NT+OO=COO) =Costly old Organisation.
(New Technology
+old organisation)
(Hall, 01)

In conclusion, newspapers cannot simply stay afloat on the back of romanticised attachments to the traditional newspaper, held on to by older generations. This in my opinion, not enough. They will have to address the issues I have raised, including coverage of more pressing stories for their readership, and providing more of a sense of interaction for readers. The latter point is something that the internet is achieving with ease. The wider distribution that the internet provides, is also debatably forcing local publications out the running.

James Congdon