By Marcus McDermott
Since the invention of the printing press newspapers have dominated the media as our foremost means of gaining information about the world around us. In an increasingly digital age however, people are often turning more and more to digital means of acquiring their news.
Since 1990 alone, circulation of US newspapers has decreased from 623,280,000 readers a week to 346,571,99 in 2016 (Pew Research). This difference is staggering, but it makes sense when coupled with the introduction of online news sources and social media platforms as an alternative. The three most heavily circulated papers in the United States are USA Today, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. All three of these sources, in an attempt to garner lost profit and failing returns from print media, have made a great effort to establish their papers online.
These outlets now offer subscription services where, for a generally low cost, one is able to purchase unlimited access to their online content. This option has become more and more prevalent in a society with great emphasis on rapid information. Instead of waiting for the morning or nightly edition of these papers, consumers are now able to access any information they want at any time- something that seems all the more compelling when most feel as if they barely have time to do the basics.
Although things may be looking grim for the world’s former most common news source, there is a silver lining for those who work in and enjoy print media. Today younger people today are more likely to read papers than their older counterparts.
This phenomena, although strange given the younger generations adept use of technology, proves a point. The value of having something of substance within grasp is something that still holds important value to the public at large. Holding a publication that took hours of dedication and hard work to print and distribute is, in the opinion of many, superior to reading intangible writing that is fed to us through our screens.
In the end, despite the benefits of speed, efficiency, and ease that come with advances in media technology, print media will always have a core group of supporters that prefer hard copies of their news. This fact, coupled with increasing numbers of youth circulation in these papers, brings positive tides for the print publications that we all know and love. Long live the paper.
Media History and Development 
Reflecting on this, newspapers have served as the medium for distributing information to consumers for their interpretation of events circumventing their lives. But with online sources being able to hold their own form of account stories, puts this industry in jeopardy. But while society is not open to this interpretation of reports in the form of paper, the generation slowly heeds this dying industry , seeks to reinstate it.
LikeLike
Although print journalism is dying, journalism itself is thriving. Citizens now are more informed than ever, even if their engagement with the news isn’t with isn’t with major publications or prints. We live in a world where research is independently available at the fingertips of those curious few who choose to inform themselves with blogs, podcasts, video, or print. We’re on the same page that newspapers are declining beyond repair, but other than polarization which I honestly believe to be more of a repercussion from current political climate (not the media), I see no problem .
LikeLike
I feel as though newspaper is dying because of peoples’ unwillingness to pay for it. Everything that is included in the newspaper can be found with ease for free online to anyone with wifi. This has a lot to say for the revenue of journalism at large because these journalists and publications are spending just as much time and hard work on their stories, yet aren’t bringing in as much cash flow. It is interesting because some news/journalism websites will actually show a prompt asking for donations to keep their site running (ie The Guardian, Wikipedia). Something in this industry needs to change in order to not only save the existence of newspapers but save journalism as a desirable career path.
LikeLike