Why Buying Newspapers Isn't Really Practical Anymore

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By Joe8943

Newspapers have informed the world of some of the most important things to ever happen, but nowadays can't beat the speed of other sources
Newspapers have informed the world of some of the most important things to ever happen, but nowadays can't beat the speed of other sources

The Digital Age Strikes Again

Around since the 17th century, newspapers have been a staple in many people's daily lives. But since sales have been declining in recent years, the end of newspapers may be closer than anyone thinks. With so many more efficient alternatives out there, many are wondering: Why do we still need newspapers?

TV

TV has been around for nearly 70 years and during those years the news has evolved. What were once nightly news casts by a few stations has transformed into hundreds of stations with many on a 24 hour news cycle. From that point on when anything happened anywhere in the world you would know about it as soon as it happened. TV and newspapers have complimented each other well over the years developing a sort of equilibrium. While TV may give it to you first, newspapers had more in-depth reporting and you could pick your own news, no commercials and no listening people drone on about topics that didn't interest you. Only a medium that could combine those features could upset that balance.

The Internet

Of course then there was the internet, over the past several years as more and more people have acquired internet access newspapers have suffered. You could now pick your topic and have unlimited news and information from countless sources. Many newspapers even have websites where you can get the news without needing to pay for it. Through emails, RSS feeds, and many other sources the news could now find you. The internet seems like the perfect solution, more news, more sources, lower price, faster speed. There was only one thing the internet couldn't replicate, portability.

Newspaper's Struggles

 
Newspaper online ads average 10-15% of total revenue
Circulation is dropping more than 2% annually
Average profit margins are only 11%
Over 1/5 of employees have been cut since 2001
With approximately 1800 cut so far in 2010
19 newspapers have closed down so far this year
Many Newspapers stock is in "junk" status

Mobile News

Mobile news is really the last straw to break the newspaper industries back, as you had all the power of the internet with the added portability only newspapers could offer. While mobile internet has been around for years, only recently have smart-phones become more dominant along with a more complete web experience versus those old limited views in cellphones. You can now get streaming video, pictures, articles and even text alerts of every news story around the world at anytime. Some newspapers like the New York Times have taken notice, providing apps for cellphones and the iPad that give you the news on the go and still get you to pay for it

The Future Of Newspapers

Newspapers aren't giving up yet though, even as readers drop, sales plummet, and newspapers either collapse or merge together. Some have remained fairly successful, but still are dropping in readers and it's mostly national papers that are surviving. In today's digital world the newspaper is becoming less and less relevant as faster and more efficient methods of delivering the news are becoming more prevalent. And as the news becomes less news and more opinion, newspapers can only offer so many, and the opinions they do offer can turn off even more readers. Even as many advertisers turn their back on newspapers, they are hanging on, but it's only a matter of time. Only one question is left: How much time?

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