Newspapers Battle With Online News Sites

David Reid wrote an article for BBC News, Papers battle online news sites

It discusses the issue that is stirring up heat all over the print industry: Will online media replace print media? The focus is on newspapers and reporting, he talks about the ways in which the print industry is coping with the ever growing online journalism freely available over the web.

The Newspaper Industry seems to be quite unsure as to how they will find ways to compete with the free news reports available online, and what their business model will look like once they produce or as they produce some kind of solution. Some industry professionals are convinced that free online news will replace Newspapers and the print media journalism industry as a whole. Larry Killman of the World Association of Newspapers, begs to differ this morbid argument.

"People have been predicting their death for years, television was going to kill newspapers, for example," -Larry Killman said

he goes on by saying,

"I think there is no doubt that growth in electronic media is the future, but there is still a future for print."

I couldn't agree more. The electronic availability of News Reporting does not mark the end of the Print Media or Newspapers for that matter. While Killman used the example of the initial concerns that television would replace newspapers, there are even more reasons to believe that the Newspaper industry will not fall flat just because of readily available news reports on the web.

Did the Digital Camera replace film cameras? Did the Photograph replace realistic paintings?

No, the Newspaper Industry is not going anywhere. We are simply witnesses to the next technology adjustment that quality, important and already existing industries will have to mold with. The business model for a Newspaper will need to change, but why wouldn't it change? Industries have to fix their business model every time the wind blows just to keep up with whatever niche market they're a part of. Offering partial services via the web, enticing their readers to purchase the paper, offering even more informative, valuable information in their Newspapers...These are just some of the things that will assist a Newspaper to keep up with its competitors.

David Reid uses The International Herald Tribune as an example of one of the Newspapers that are taking heed to the development of the internet and free news access over the web.

"The International Herald Tribune now sees itself as a media organisation rather than just a paper; their website features video stories and has taken the step of charging for premium content." -David Reid

Time will tell how the print industry, and Newspaper Industry will evolve to appease its readers. But, one thing is for sure, it can only get better. As we as a society grow and learn, we also demand more from the products and services that we so choose to utilize. A simple worm hole example of technology's influence on society, progess shaping way for the future.