Technology is so rooted in our daily lives that information can be accessed anywhere, anytime with a simple click of a button. Waiting for news to be published has been made redundant by online reporting. This, and other factors, is why print journalism is dying out.
BY SARAH PELSER
1. Traditions are lost in a world of tech
While the older generation likes to poke fun at younger people being attached to their phones, they forget that soon these young people will be adults and their habits will become social norms.
Today it is rare to see young people reading a magazine or newspaper and the reason for this is simple – patience is not a virtue of the youth today. Why would you wait for an article to be published tomorrow when you can read about what happened on your news app right now?
The Web has allowed people to research anything at the click of a button making print journalism outdated by the time it reaches the stands. The speed at which information flows is very important and print journalism simply cannot compete.
What’s more, long gone are the days of journalism by journalists. With every phone equipped with a camera and a WiFi connection, anyone can report on a situation. It is increasingly important for journalists who want to be relevant to write for online magazines and news applications.
2. Social media likes, GIFs, images and keywords entice audiences to the Web
The way authors attract and keep their audience on the Web is a vital factor leading to the decline of print journalism. The ability to search for articles with keywords means a wider range of readers are captured and not just the people scrolling through that specific magazine, unlike print journalism where you get what you are given.
Writing online also means connecting with and attracting people through platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; helping to spread the title of your article and reach new readers. The overall effect is a much larger group of people being reached at a rapid rate.
Photos, videos and GIFs all come together to create an experience that leaves the audience with both information and entertainment in a way print media can never come close to.
3. Global pressure is on print journalism to change
Pollution and global warming are real threats that we are facing. Paper for magazines and newspapers comes from trees, and although forestry is a renewable resource – with 15 million trees being planted globally over the last five years, as stated by tentree – paper still creates waste when it isn’t disposed of properly.
Business Tech, a news reporting website, found that 17% of all global waste was paper and only 1% was recycled. The simplest way to reduce this amount of paper waste would be to remove it from our lives. With online reporting, the amount of daily paper waste would be reduced greatly, and it is this prospect that also encourages people to get their news from the Web rather than print media.
As a journalist, writing only for print is no longer an option. With the Web offering audiences new and better ways to get information, it is clear why print journalism is on its way out.
About the Author
Sarah Pelser is a part-time freelance writer and currently works for a popular bookshop chain. She enjoys writing short stories and participating in writing competitions.
Photo credit- Pexels.com
