The Future of Print Media, Part 4 of 4

Foreseeable future of print media

     Over the past few years, the media has seen a dramatic increase in internet usage, and now the internet has
been molded into its own form of media. Almost as if we have stepped into the year 3000, new media and new technology are sprouting up everywhere. With the invention of the tablet computer, with companies such as Apple and Hewlett Packard leading the way into the future of media, things will never be the same. Apple’s iPad has recently made a giant splash into the world of tablets and has a growing fan base from consumers to media companies alike. For example, the New York Times has already developed a version of its newspaper for the tablet and many other media organizations are beginning to follow suit. Also, on the forefront of the revolution is the men’s magazine GQ, which has a completely new layout of its publication, with added features not found in the print version, such as video and audio. This new technology creates good news for print media, and new revenue opportunities. With Apple’s new tablet, most of the media offered is sold through its app store, and this gives media a new type of income.

     These days it is easier than ever to check up on the latest articles and the most recent news from international and local newspapers for free online. With this new ease of access to content, news media is starting to lose its bottom line. Currently, the costs of newspapers are relatively high for subscriptions. An example of this is the Denver Post, who offers its subscribers 52 weeks of home delivery for $163.80. This brings up the question, why would someone offer to pay over $100 for something that they could get for free online? Just as newspapers and magazines charge for print issues, some feel the same should be done for online content. Harold Evans, the former editorial director of U.S. News & World Report, and president and publisher of Random House, was recently asked in an interview about his thoughts on online news media making the move towards charging. He responded saying, “I think it will help them survive… The Wall Street Journal gets significant revenues from charging, so if that helps to sustain a newspaper as important as the New York Times or Wall Street Journal, so be it”.

      Even though the future of print media seems a little uncertain, many are optimistic about the reputation of print media. “There are people that like the tangible aspect of the newspaper. Old people like the feel of reading the newspaper and discovering new things”. No matter what happens to print media, it will be around for many years to come. Whether it’s a newspaper, magazine, or even a brochure print media is here to stay. There will be future advancements, but nothing will ever be completely one way or the other.