Print Media: Friend or Foe?

By Lindsay Kline


On August 24th, 2006, an article appeared in the Economist and stated that “the most useful bit of media is disappearing, a cause for concern but not for panic.” The article was attempting to discredit the myth that print journalism is facing a future of irrelevance and suggested that a switch to online publishing will rehabilitate print media. Questions regarding the future of print continue to be asked, however, there seems to be an increase in tension and competition between the supporters of print and those looking to enhance technological modes of communicating.


Technological advances in the 21st century have surpassed those in any other time period due to a variety of increases in accessibility and consumer knowledge. Social media outlets such as Facebook with 500 million, Twitter with 200 million, and LinkedIn with 80 million users all over the world, provides a space for people to express their opinions, and share facts on what they think is important. Blogging also aids in this exchange of information so much that the term “citizen” journalism has been created to exemplify the role people take while providing information online. Yet, with this increase in social media and people’s awareness of the world around them, the spread of misinformation- regarding breaking news in particular- occurs to a greater extent than ever before.  

Increases in online activity all over the world constantly provide people with a forum to discover new information from friends and family, rather than the six o’clock news or daily newspaper. However, The problem with social media lies in its legitimacy as a source of information: “citizen” journalists can be commended for their intelligence and ability to be at the right place at the right time to produce a story, but hard-lined facts and research are done by professionals in the field of journalism. The occurrence of breaking news such as the congresswoman shooting in Texas requires unwavering facts and reporting that is grounded in true circumstances. Furthermore, an ability to relate stories and educate readers entails a particular skill set that bloggers and  “citizen” journalists cannot provide professionally. 


There remains a problem not only with how citizens handle information they receive but also in the field of journalism itself. In the past, journalists were considered the groundbreakers of worldwide news due to their ability to hold governments and companies accountable and transparent. The reputation associated with journalists and their job as information providers skyrocketed in the 1960’s and 1970’s with political turmoil and issues such as the Watergate Scandal and John F. Kennedy assassination in the United States. In Canada, the media effectively shed light on Quebec separatism, the rest of Canada as well as Trudeau’s leadership capabilities in such a tumultuous time.

In recent years, however, journalism has been greatly affected with the increase in online activity. The production of Iphones, Ipads, Blackberries, Kobo e-readers and various social medias has resulted in the ability of citizens to become better connected with domestic, national, and international issues. As a result, the field of journalism has needed to play catch-up. While broadcast journalism continues to maintain relevance, print journalism has faltered in comparison and been stereotyped as an old fashioned and tedious method of acquiring information.


Those who support the existence of newspapers continue to create and recreate new ways for print to succeed. For example, Jacek Utko delivered a TED talk where he describes the need for publications to redesign their layout in order for readership to increase. Utko explains that by enhancing and modernizing a newspaper’s image, more people will be interested in reading a visually pleasing publication. Recently the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail made this change by revamping not only their print newspaper but also their online version. These changes have included more visuals, white space, and font experimentation. The result has been an increase in people purchasing the national newspaper, further increasing production and profits.


Current day newspapers are also responsible for maintaining an online profile where news is continuously uploaded to provide citizens with breaking news. The result of maintaining an off and online profile has resulted in an increase in readers from all over the world. Newspapers such as Al Jazeera, The Washington Post, and The New York Times have experienced an increase in readers from different parts of the globe, thus, thereby increasing interconnectedness in the 21st century.


Print journalism continues to struggle in the face of technological changes and more people turning to the internet for their information. I question this phenomenon and its credibility as a way for people to connect due to the alienating experience of being online day in and day out. The experience of reading a newspaper, having the pages in your hands, and being able to have an interactive experience that enlightens and supports our ability to communicate face to face with others is irreplaceable and reflective of our human nature. While the decline of print media steadily continues, the problem does not seem pressing due to online newspapers, new layout strategies and social media that are created to replace the fading image of the newspaper. However, I question whether this is really necessary. Perhaps some traditional forms of media are worth holding on to in order for people to have more diversity in their ways to communicate and learn about the world around them.