Newspapers: Still Going Strong

 My name is Lindy Oller. I am a former journalist from Georgia. I worked as a reporter for the Opelika-Auburn News in Auburn, Alabama. I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications from the University of West Georgia. I am currently working on getting my Master of Science degree in Strategic Communications from Troy University.

In this blog, I will focus on strategic communications and emerging media. The topics I will discuss include traditional media, digital media, mobile and strategic communication, social networking and strategic communication, blogging, citizen journalism and digital democracy, crowd sourcing, politics and the global impact of emerging media, branding and online reputations, children, the future of media and regulatory issues and what’s next for emerging media.

This blog will be published on a weekly basis. The web address for the blog is https://lindyoller.blogspot.com/?m=1. My background in journalism and current graduate studies in strategic communications provides me with a level of credibility to write on topics relating to the role of emerging media in strategic communications.

Is Traditional Media Dying?

Today’s discussion will focus on whether the print industry is alive or on its deathbed. Some people would count it out, but it still has some life in it. Those who are fans of the first Rocky movie remember spectators doubting he could win a fight. Rocky proved his doubters wrong. Print journalism still has some rounds left in it. Some aspects of traditional print may fall by the wayside. The print industry can only get stronger if it looks towards the future.

Whenever I visit my grandparents, they would always have stacks of newspapers. Some would be in the living room and others would be in the dining room. My grandmother likes to cut out coupons for grocery or clothes shopping. They would rather hold a newspaper than try to view it on the computer. I have come to appreciate print journalism because of my grandparents.

When I was a reporter in Alabama, I was able to witness how newspapers were made at our printing press. I thought it was cool to see the process from start to finish. To me, there was nothing better than getting a newspaper hot off the presses. That is why I was so sad to learn that my former newspaper shut down their printing press. It felt like the end of an era. The closing of printing presses and the loss of jobs have occurred in newsrooms across the country. Some would say that print journalism is dead. It is not dead. Print journalism can thrive if it continues to evolve. The print industry must constantly re-invent itself if it wants to adapt to the digital age. 


        Picture of the printing press at the Opelika-Auburn News

The Evolution of Newspapers

My grandparents remember paper boys throwing newspapers to each house on the block. Paper boys may be gone now, but the news is still being delivered whether it is physical or digital. 


           Picture of a paper boy

Since the founding of the United States, newspapers have always been at the center of American democracy. “The founding fathers considered a free press so essential that it was a main reason to subsidize postal and road systems” (Miller, 2020). “As much as 70 percent of mail delivered in the 1790s, and 95 percent in the 1830s, consisted of newspapers. Thomas Jefferson said he would rather have “newspapers without a government” than “government without newspapers” (Miller, 2020). Newspapers were at the forefront of providing information to the public about events happening in the nation and around the world.

The history of media in the United States can be divided into three eras. In the first era, pamphlets were being delivered on horseback during the American Revolution. The second era, which was started by the industrial revolution, had businesses buying newspaper ads to showcase their products. This model was the norm for at least 150 years. However, this would eventually come to pass. In the third era, there are many newspapers dead or dying because of the lack of advertisers willing to put money in print. Advertisers are part of what keeps newsrooms operating. Without advertisers, print journalism would struggle to survive. Newsrooms could not continue to write stories if money is not being brought into the company. Print journalism must acquire new ways to bring in advertisers and make a profit.

James Madison, one of our country’s founding fathers, once wrote that “a popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both” (Miller, 2020). It is up to the people and the workers of the print industry to help come up with new possibilities in order to maintain the reputation of print journalism and not let it go up in flames.

The Rise of Digital News

Once we reach the 2010’s, the way Americans receive news has transitioned from print to digital spaces. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2020, “more than eight-in-ten U.S. adults (86%) say they get news from a smartphone, computer or tablet “often” or “sometimes,” including 60% who say they do so often” (Shearer, 2021). Generation Y Americans have been accustomed to getting news on their phone or on a tablet because they are always on-the-run and like to read stories that are shorter than one would see in a physical newspaper.

The younger generations have stark differences from their elders in how they obtain news. “Americans ages 50 and older use both television and digital devices for news at high rates, while the younger age groups have almost fully turned to digital devices as a platform to access news” (Shearer, 2021). The younger generations are leading a shift to digital devices as the primary option for news. Newsrooms are adapting to their younger audience by providing news websites and having social media pages.

In a 2020 study compiled by Senior Computational Social Scientist Galen Stocking and Research Assistant Maya Khuzam at the Pew Research Center, there was a high use of social media from the 97 media outlets in their analysis. These outlets “have an official presence on Facebook and Twitter, while at least nine-in-ten have a presence on Instagram (96%) and YouTube (93%)” (Khuzam & Stocking, 2021). Newspapers must display their content not only on their own website, but on social media sites as well. A wider net is cast when news stories are published on social media sites.

The Future of Print Journalism

In a time of COVID-19 and fake news, many newspapers have started to see decreases in circulation.

According to a study compiled by Senior Researcher Michael Barthel and Research Assistant Kirsten Worden at the Pew Research Center, “the estimated total U.S. daily newspaper circulation (print and digital combined) in 2020 was 24.3 million for weekday and 25.8 million for Sunday, each down 6% from the previous year” (Barthel & Worden, 2021). While a decrease in circulation does not bode well for the industry, it is not the end. This can be an opportunity for newsrooms to utilize new ways to bring in more readers.

Unfortunately, employment in print media has been on a downward trajectory.

The data Barthel and Worden collected from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics states that “30,820 people worked as reporters, editors, photographers, or film and video editors and operators in the newspaper industry in 2020. That is down 12% from 2019 and 57% from 2004” (Barthel & Worden, 2021). I have lost many friends to layoffs. Some journalists find it hard to work because of low pay and long hours. If there were better working conditions and opportunities for journalists, maybe there would be a rise in employment. So where will print journalism be in five years? 10 years? The future of print journalism can prosper if print journalism brings in digital aspects into its news gathering and publishing.

In conclusion, the digital age is here to stay, and newspaper companies must decide if they want to stay with the times or get left behind. Instead of thinking about the end of print journalism, let’s think about the future of journalism in general. Whether we get our news in print or digital, journalism is still in the forefront. Print and digital should be thought of together and not apart.

References:

Barthel, M., & Worden, K. (2021, July 16). Trends and facts on newspapers: State of the news media. Pew Research Center. https://www.journalism.org/fact-sheet/newspapers/.

Khuzam, M., & Stocking, G. (2021, July 27). Trends and facts on online news: State of the news media. Pew Research Center. https://www.journalism.org/fact-sheet/digital-news/.

Miller, J. (2020, May 15). Review: How (and why) to reinvent journalism as we know it. America Magazine. https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2020/05/15/review-how-and-why-reinvent-journalism-we-know-it.

Shearer, E. (2021, January 12). 86% of Americans get news online from smartphone, computer or tablet. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/01/12/more-than-eight-in-ten-americans-get-news-from-digital-devices/.

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