Will newspaper survive?

http://.abc.net.au/rn/breakfast/stories/2007/1910844.htm

There has been a long discussion about whether the traditional print media, that is the print newspapers, will slowly vanish or be transformed into another genre, such as the online or digital newspaper.

In my view, the print newspapers will gradually die out but not suddenly, maybe by the next century.

The emergence of radio and television did not kill the print newspaper but now, with the rise of the hybrid media, the internet has become a threat to print newspapers. In fact, the internet is still considered as a new media and its credibility is not as strong as the traditional media including newspapers. Readers may choose to rely more on the print newspapers because they have such a long history and have gone through all types of changes of content and appearance.

Compared to the online news, reading newspapers is more convenient because no electronic device is needed. Not everyone can afford the cost of a computer as well as the cost of an internet connection. Newspapers are low in cost and so more affordable for most people. In addition, people from poorer countries may only be able to afford the cost of a newspaper and this may be the main medium for them to get information from their government as well as from the world.



The same assumptions were made about reading books. Book is considered a traditional print medium but books still survive in this market. Reading a newspaper is also a habit of reading for many people and this reading culture will not easily change. Different media satisfies different needs and newspapers still having their own market and target audience and are still surviving in this era.

In conclusion, whether traditional media or new media, the media have a role to orientate their audiences to the world of information and current issues. It is important for the readers to get in touch with the world without boundaries and this is the job of the media.

http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/forums/newspapers_welcome.html