Decline of the Print Newspaper, Essay Example

Most newspapers have an online site in which the same amount of news (if not more) is being distributed to the public. This garners the question as to whether or not the newspaper business is on the decline in relation to their hardcopy, print sales. The newspaper business, or the printed paper, is in a decline. There are two reasons for this: people do not get their news on their doorstep anymore but through digital media, and because the internet gets people instant access the public has become used to this and demands their news in real-time (something that print media cannot give to it’s consumers). The printed newspaper still has to go through a printing press process that, albeit, is digital, still takes time to process. This process is lengthened because of newspaper’s penchants for colored photos (mostly on the sports page). The cost to ship newspapers and the manpower utilized to do this (baggers, paperboys, gas) add up. Thus, it’s a wonder that newspapers haven’t gone completely digital (going green and being environmentally conscientious makes for a compelling switch as well). The exertion of funds, hours, and effort to keep a running print newspaper alive seems to not be worth the this effort.

There are some things that can be done to save this dying enterprise such as coupons being printed in the paper that are only in the paper, savings for advertisers who print in the paper (thus also creating revenue as most newspaper get their money from ad sales instead of from subscriptions), and putting newsstands in prominent locations around metropolitan areas (such as coffee shops, arenas, or anywhere where there’s a crowd). Howard Hughes created excitement for newspapers by creating news. For instance, he had employees jump off boats then write about a mystery man jumping off a boat. Such stories while sensationalizing news, do sell copies. Such tactics albeit slightly captious may be implemented in this day and age in order to sell more papers. News is sensationalized anyway, as can be witnessed on any tv news station. The programs that garner the most viewership include ones about car chases and what harmful household products may kill you. Counter to this argument however is the local movement. The local movement is newspapers that are in a small town and have small town news. These places are steeped in tradition and like these habits to maintain a stasis in their town. This may be a good thing, as most people in these towns will buy the paper. The newspaper then is treated more like a gossip/brag sheet as the headlines don’t focus on world or national news (although some AP things come in on the wire) but rather on local high school sports and how big a fish some local caught. Thus, by generating stories about local people, the newspaper generates more of their circulation (or at least keeps a steady pace of it circulating). It seems that through circulation and advertisement focusing, a newspaper has a decent shot of not being termed a dinosaur and of truly competing in the digital age for space in people’s minds. A newspaper’s number one job is to reveal the truth and do this through sharing human stories: if a newspaper can stay true to that, and try to implement the other two factors, they may survive.