Traditional media VS digital media, battle of the survival
Do you still read newspapers nowadays? Have you ever read them? If yes, when was the last time you did so? Imagine asking these questions to someone who comes from generation Z (born in 1996–2010), the answers would probably be No and No, not to forget the resentment that comes along, as if reading newspapers has become an ancient habit. In my opinion such behavior is understandable. After all, newspapers are usually linked to older generations since they were limited by the resources when it comes to receiving news. The resources also included TV and radio. “As of early 2016, just two-in-ten U.S. adults often get news from print newspapers. This has fallen from 27% in 2013” (Amy Mitchell, 2016). “U.S. newspaper circulation fell in 2018 to its lowest level since 1940, the first year with available data”.
Surprisingly, generation Z seems to be interested in consuming news, however, not via traditional media but through online news outlets as shown in the chart above. So, what’s the catch? Why are online news replacing newspapers? There are plenty of reasons behind this massive decline of newspapers consumption; such as the rising popularity of social media as a free, lively and instant source for news.
Who shall take the blame for the decline of newspapers? It is an ongoing debate since early 2000s, in which experts from both worlds (traditional and digital) media tend to point fingers at each other in a desperate attempt to not take responsibility. I personally believe that both parties are at fault. Digital news outlets are thriving to have higher viewership/reach/clicks in order to earn more money from advertisers by any means, it can go as far as publishing content that isn’t even worthy of publishing. Whereas the stubbornness of those in the newspapers field, and the never-ending resentment towards the online media is holding them back.
I believe that newspapers will always have powerful content over online news specially in the areas of investigative reports. There is also a touch of authenticity in the journalism of the newspapers that simply doesn’t exist in the online media. A new business model can be achieved by joining forces. What if the top newspapers acquired the local ones and formed partnership with online news outlets with similar agendas and ideologies. This partnership could result in publishing a full exclusive story divided into two pieces, each piece would be published on a different outlet (newspapers and online). The online news outlet should have subscription fees that will grant the subscriber an access to the website and the physical newspaper.
I’m against newspapers going fully online, although it’s the logical and successful action to revive the business, but I truly believe that we cannot simply kill this industry. It is more credible and authentic and have less chances of spreading fake news unlike digital news.
Amy Mitchell, J. (2016, August 27). How Americans get their news. Retrieved October 26, 2020, from https://www.journalism.org/2016/07/07/pathways-to-news/
Grieco, E. (2020, February 14). Fast facts about the newspaper industry’s financial struggles as McClatchy files for bankruptcy. Retrieved October 27, 2020, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/02/14/fast-facts-about-the-newspaper-industrys-financial-struggles/
