Future of News

Future of News
by George Denliker - Tuesday, 9 February 2010, 03:40 PM

It seems that newspaper will undoubtedly have to make certain changes in the future to keep their consumer numbers up. Online options are what seem to be the most practical at the moment. People are constantly online, browsing through different websites constantly reading different articles. One of the individuals on the panel mentioned that children as young as three and four years old are computer literate now-a-days. The computer, more specifically the internet, has become such a crucial life line in society today. The gentlemen who was the head of the Philadelphia Inquirer had the best attitude in my opinion. He mentioned early on in the video that to stay relevant and popular, new sources would have to be willing to change. This attitude is the one that I most agree with. The willingness to change and learn is something that should not be taken for granted. It is the papers that continue to stay close minded and not open to change that are going to be the first ones to go under. I myself do not regularly read a specific newspaper, but if newspaper were to ever cease to exist I would be incredibly disappointed. Newspapers are still obviously very relevant, it is only minor details that put a damper on their revenue, and with open minds and willingness to change it is my opinion that newspaper will forever have a spot on the newsstands.

Re: Future of News
by Lorraine Metz - Tuesday, 9 February 2010, 03:47 PM

I completely agree that the sources need to be willing to change. Since media is ever-evolving so must everything else evolve. In order to provide information the newspapers must remain relevant. I agree about the head of the Philadelphia Inquirer having a great attitude and perspective and believe that much of his success stems from them.

I was there in 2008!



Re: Future of News
by James Marino - Tuesday, 9 February 2010, 03:58 PM

I agree with your concept in principle. However, I would like to add this personal insight; I get the majority of my sports news (which is the primary type of news I follow) from ESPN's TV program "Around the Horn." What draws me to this program is not the headlines or the content, necessarily; it is the personalities, the style, and the interactions between the four panelists involved, as well as the innovative game itself within the show.

My point in saying this is that simply putting a newspaper online will not make me any more likely to read it; coming up with an innovative way to present the news, with exciting, charismatic, innovative journalists who are able to create a following; THAT, I believe, is the way to attract new readers in this time of decline.

I don't watch Around the Horn for the content; I watch it because I enjoy the insights of the participants, and it is something that I cannot get from any other source. Newspapers need to find their niche, so to speak; they need to find something that they do well and that they can offer that no other source can. It is easier said than done, but it is, in my opinion, what would save the news media.

Re: Future of News
by Asa Hilmersson - Tuesday, 9 February 2010, 03:58 PM


I agree with you and I also liked the Philadelphia Inquirer's attitude. It is only with an open mind for change that newspapers will be able to survive. Just as you I would be very disappointed if printed newspapers ceased to exist but at the same time I believe in a way that it might happen. It won't happen today or in ten years but in the future. I base this on that it is the old people that in general prefer the printed version and as time goes by it's going to only be the younger generation, the online reading generation, left.