In the past decade, newspapers have experienced a downward economic trend as readers turn to alternative modes and means of accessing and digesting new media. The digitalization of newspapers and the rapid progression of technology and cultural inclusion of these new technologies have resulted in soaring newsprint prices, slumping ad sales, and a severe drop in circulation and subscriptions. Over the past few years, once prominent and widely disseminated newspapers have had to close, declare bankruptcy, or undergo severe cutbacks in order to stay competitive against the onset of digital media. Since 2001, the newspaper industry has cut over a fifth of its journalist positions, begging the question; if journalism is no longer financially profitable as a profession or industry and consumers begin to turn to free online amateur journalism, how well informed can we be?
Within the industry, there is little consensus as to the best strategy for survival. Some newspapers are attempting to make new digital technologies work for them by adopting e-paper, pay per view, and online subscription models as a means to capitalize off increasing consumer demand for news. Despite newspaper efforts to retain their market share of newsreaders through the incorporation of new technologies in their business models, the once explosive growth of newspaper web revenues has leveled off, leaving the industry unsure of how to increase its profits. It appears that readers are increasingly less willing to pay for their news while information on the web is both plentiful and free.
What concerns me, as a student and researcher of communication, is that if reliable, accountable, and professional journalism becomes replaced by anonymous bloggers with questionable credentials and points of view, what effect will this shift have on our information driven society and culture? My goal for this paper will be to analyze, understand, and explain the cultural and industrial shifts in the newspaper industry that have lead to the rise of print-less journalism, and the effects these changes have and will have on American culture and society. While these goals are lofty and far-reaching, they will be grounded by the specific study of prominent news sources strategies to adapt to their changing environment and the ways that consumers are responding to these strategies.
Wow. I really like this idea! I think that in a couple years from now, we wont even have newspapers, so this research should give us a better understanding for how this phenomenon is taking place. Kudos to you Dil, great idea!
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing with newspapers being a dying business interests me too even though I'm doing a different topic. Maybe try looking in to how social networking sites like Twitter has affected the news and how it is reported as well. After all, if Twitter reports the news within seconds, what's the point of having print news at all? I still feel like online newspapers are needed but from what I've read lately, they just seem to be columnists writing about what they think should be done about certain things.
ReplyDeleteThis is a topic I considered doing as well, just like everything else the technology is changing the face of the news industry. It could pose a problem for newspapers and journals, but I feel that some people still may want the physical news, so it will be interesting to see what the industry decides to do. I'd like to hear about maybe one newspaper or magazine and how they are handling the whole issue just to give the readers something more concrete.
ReplyDeleteIt is strange to see what has become a staple of American society fading away. You can see all the cuts mad at the NY Times one of the most popular newspapers in the world and know things are headed south. Im curious what will happen to the local paper industry. They only way I got news about my hometown was through the paper. I wonder if that will be digitized too?
ReplyDeleteBooth I love this topic, my topic is very similar in that profit is destroying news today. No longer are journalist diving deep into the cold facts, yet they are just doing what will get published. They are chasing mainstream news when they should be chasing what serves the public. Technology and Internet and changing the game, and some things are being left behind(journalism). Look forward to seeing your project.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the premise that a lack of incentive to be a reporter at a prestigious paper will decrease the likelihood of great print reporting in the future. However, I wonder if your research could extend to examine the legitimacy that blogs will garner in a more digitalized news era. The Huffington Post plays a prime example of a new outlet. It may also open an opportunity for the public to play a greater role in challenging major organizations by participating in the sharing of information. I suppose this may be outside your scope of research but it might be interesting to consider/delve into.
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