Should printed news be a thing of the past?
Posted by The Skyliner on April 22nd, 2009Jessicah Peters
Staff Writers
When looking at the growth of the Internet, the access is much easier in researching news.
As technology advances, many newspapers are finding it more cost efficient and productive to transfer all articles to an online database.
The Neue Zürcher Zeitung (“New Zurich Newspaper”) is Switzerland’s most prestigious newspaper. It was first published in 1780 and is one of the oldest German language newspapers still in existence. Recently, they have stopped the printing of the paper and moved all articles to NZZ online.
The advantages of newspapers being online are intriguing.
First, the paper products are cut back in circulation and it can save money for each small newspaper company.
Increasingly, saving paper seems to be a huge issue; however, when does the advantage of saving money overcome the demand of the consumer?
When considering the reason behind the technology out spurt, many times the latest generation seeks to keep up with the technology through twitter or facebook and can find all the proceeding articles needed to do research.
Amy Bennett, freshman early childhood major, says her family never had a subscription to the local newspaper, so it was uncommon for her to pick up a newspaper and read it. “You can find more information on reading online. I never get the newspaper,” said Amy.
“I read most of my stuff online, just usually because I can’t find a newspaper though,” said Eledridge Beaufort, junior math major. If newspapers brought about a new way of circulation, more consumers would consider reading the articles. Brian Stephens, a junior Christian studies major states reading the newspaper online is much easier. “I never read the newspaper, because it is easier for me to find what kind of news I like by searching the certain topics.” said Stephens.
One disadvantage to moving all newspapers online is the inability to look up news if you do not have a computer, or access to the internet. Yes, news will still be broadcasted on television, but the careers of Journalist and Free-lancers can be put out of place.
“It is easier for me to look at the newspaper, because I don’t look at the online articles much.” said Jaleesa Gladden, a junior Health and Wellness major. Technology can be complicating to those who do not “surf” the net all the time. Tyler Hovis, a senior Business major, minor in marketing, prefers to read the print version of newspapers because it is too much to hassle with online. “When you look at the online articles, you pull up too much stuff, and its annoying.” said Hovis.
Many love the scenery of the newspaper, each article arranged in the fashion, in which, all flow.
“Newspapers are much more easier, because you get so much more information out of it.” said Joshua Putnam, a junior marketing major with honors.
With newspapers articles moving online, the faster the news can be portrayed. Newspapers usually take a few days to be printed, and can slow the processes of informing the public of news that happened at that moment. But with the use of articles being submitted online and print, news can be portrayed more effectively. The NGUskyliner.com offers a newsfeed where not only students can access the latest issues of the newspaper, but also look up the old issues and make comments about them. As newspapers considered the transitional movement from print and digital, it is important to keep the consumer happy. The pros seem to outweigh the cons in the technology department, however each consumer of news should have the ability to choose to subscribe to the a newspaper online, or continue to read the printed version.