The Future of Print
I’ve said many times that print is not going away. But I do think we’ll see fantastic changes in the near future. For example, this article by Reuters says newspapers must become better integrated with digital services and might move to free circulation:
The report, conducted by Zogby International for the World Editors Forum and Reuters, revealed that newspaper editors were still optimistic about the future of their publications but believed they would have to adapt further for the digital age.
Some 86 percent of respondents believed newsrooms should become more integrated with digital services as two in three believe the most common form of news consumption will be via electronic media such as online or mobiles within a decade.
“For these editors the future is self-evident and our survey shows that they see the writing on the newsroom wall,” said pollster John Zogby.
“The evolution of the 4th Estate is no longer questions of if, when or how. Editors now know the solution: Innovate. Integrate. Or perish.”
According to the survey, 56 percent of respondents believed that the majority of news, be it via print or online, would be free in the future.
That sounds right to me. Further, I think most newspapers (not The New York Times or the Wall Street Journal) ought to consider a move to the tabloid size sooner rather than later. Broadsheet is the size of different age in which we had the leisure to enjoy a newspaper as a reading experience in itself. Those days are gone. It seems that the (post)modern reader wants ease of access and convenience. The tabloid size fits these desires.
The article also says newspapers may begin to place greater emphasis on opinion and commentary. I hope that is a false prediction. The interactive world of the internet is far better suited to opinion because we may all talk back instantly. Print needs to preserve the concept of “newspaper journalism,” i.e.:
- Its content is not shaped by a limiting technology…
- Its usefulness is based far more on completeness and clarity than immediacy.
- Its claim on credibility is based on its length and depth, which allow readers to judge the facts behind the story’s headline and opening summary paragraph and then look for internal contradictions.
- It has intrinsic value and relevance to people rather than merely amusing or entertaining them.
- Opinions and analysis are labeled as such and are presented separately.
Tags: journalism
Digital revaluation in print media is worked well. Online readership is increased dramatically from the past three years. All the publishers are presenting their publications through online to attract the advertisers, increase the readers and generate the revenues. There are some companies like Pressmart Media providing the e-publishing solution for all print editions and distributing them through various new technology mediums.
“Its content is not shaped by a limiting technology…”
Explain? I’m reading this as saying, “The Internet is limiting.”
Please tell me I’m reading that wrong.
Wynn,
Not speaking for Andy, but I thought you might be interested in this post based on discussions I’ve had with Andy in the past:
If you were to explain that to a moron (which I am), how would you do so?
I just can’t imagine how the Internet, which can do anything, can look limited in comparison to print.
And for the record, I’m not trying to be a pain. I’m just curious if there’s something I need to be aware of that I’m currently not.
Wynn,
The Internet is print. It’s also audio, graphics, pictures and video. It’s paper, radio and TV. It’s even more than those because of hypertext and the ability to upload as well as download.
So how is it limited? Screen size. Bandwidth. Wireless dead spots. Portable battery power. The digital gap. Cost and profitability. Etc.
In that sense, the Internet is limited in the same way that print on paper is limited by pages size, column inches, front page vs. inside pages, etc.
Wynn… Merritt isn’t claiming the internet is limiting. Rather, he’s claiming that what makes print journalism important–what Postman would call “propositional content”–isn’t shaped by technology but instead print shapes the technology. I’m not at all sure he’s correct about that. But I find the claim interesting.