Future of Newspapers

Good question

A letter came this week from a youngster at Christ Our King-Stella Maris School, asking me:

“Do you think in five years the newspaper will be gone or do you think they will still be around? I know the internet is fast, but it would take some time for all the news to come up.”

She raises a good question, one that is being hotly debated in journalism circles, as evidenced by an article in the Stanford Daily about a symposium that featured key newspaper executives.

I agree with those panelists who said we will remain prosperous in the coming years if we don’t panic. Here is part of my response to her:

“I do think newspapers will be around in five years and for quite a few years after. 

Newspapers are like many other businesses that are facing challenges from new competitors, the Internet for one. But keep in mind that our industry has weathered other threats from new competitors, from the telegraph, to radio to television, to name a few.

There is no substitute for the ease of use and portability of newspapers, and they remain a bargain in a world where a bottle of water costs twice as much as a newspaper!

Smart newspaper companies are finding ways to use the Internet to strengthen their positions as the major provider of news for their communities. Combining our print and our Web site, we reach 81 percent of all adults in the Charleston market. That's a powerful position.”

And it's a position that we hope will also serve this young lady's generation.