Internet and Newspapers

People need news. This is a simple fact that has guided the news media and made their work possible since the dawn of journalism. For decades, sitting with the morning newspaper to get news has been a tradition in millions of homes. It was as essential to many people's morning rituals as a cup of coffee. However with the rise of the Internet came Internet journalism. This medium has evolved quickly into a well-oiled machine that makes information available for free as soon as it happens. Newspapers remain a paper based medium that is only available every morning.

Information is now available almost instantly twenty-four hours a day on the Internet. Not only this, but the information is free most of the time. When faced with the option to learn about something for free as it happens, or to wait for the next day and pay for it, which would you choose?

The declining readership is doubly deadly to newspapers. Declining readership means declining sales. Consider all of the cost that goes into printing a newspaper. Hire a staff of editors, writers, photographers, buy a printing press, ink, paper, delivery systems and you're not even there yet. No one buys the paper, there is no way to afford getting the paper to the public. Sure a lot of the cost of printing a newspaper actually comes from advertising, but as readers leave so do the advertisers. The advertisers choose to go to where there product can get more exposure, be seen by more people, for less money. That is the Internet. Even newspaper mainstays such as classified ads and auto listings have moved to sites like Monster and Cars.com. At sites like these, employers can give more job details and access resumes while those selling used cars can post pictures for potential buyers.

Newspapers are not being completely left in the dust as they have begun publishing their articles on Web Sites. It is hard to find a newspaper that does not have an Internet edition. Whether it be a large, reputable paper such as The New York Times or The Washington Post, or local newspapers such as The Asbury Park Press and The Ocean County Observer. However, Business Week reports that even these ventures are not enough to help the newspapers continue to publish their paper editions.

Rupert Murdoch, media mogul at the head of News Corporation, believes writer Philip Meyer's assertion that the law issue of a newspaper will be printed some time in 2040. The future certainly looks grim for newspapers. Print is dying and it will be buried in a computer box.