Top 5 Reasons Why Print Media is a Dying Industry

Looking for reasons why print media is a dying industry? Well, we’ll try to come up with a few possible reasons, although you should be aware of the fact that there is still a big debate going on whether this is actually true. There are people who still believe that print media will never completely die, but one thing is for sure – it is definitely an industry that registers major dropouts throughout the years. So, we’ll try to figure out why this is happening.

Are you interested in this topic because you prefer print media? Or, maybe, you are from Internet-raised generation and wondering why all this fuss about print media dying? Thinking – why would anyone go to a newsstand to buy a newspaper, when they can check everything with only one click? We hope you’ll find this article interesting whatever the curiosity has made you open it. And we have an answer to the previous question – there are people for whom reading an actual newspaper is just a part of their ritual. They have been doing that all their lives, they have the urge to hold the magazine; it’s a tradition. And, it makes their life goes just a bit slower. The problem with the digital media, is that it makes your life go much faster, you just click to see the news, read something, scroll down, then some other related topic catches your attention, you go there, and then you realize you’ve spent and hour or two, reading something you don’t even remember. Yes, you read that right, scientific researches have proven that reading on your computer and reading an actual book or magazine are not the same experiences. Reading an actual book has been proven to have much more positive effects, including the better memory of what was read.

I guess, almost all the reasons explaining why print media is a dying industry can be summed up into – because of easiness and convenience digital media are offering. People from all corners of the world have been seeking the ways to make their life easier, to avoid doing something, or make it simpler, faster, skip a few steps and so on. Usually, we don’t tend to do what is better for us, but what is easier. And with digital media, everything has become easier, both for the readers and publishers.

Those who agree about all the benefits of traditional reading, and who support saving the print media industry, will be happy to read about the best selling magazines in the United States. Finally, we would like to get back to our main topic and take a brief look at the more detailed top 5 reasons why print media is a dying industry. Let’s take a look at our countdown to see what explanations we have come up with.

5. Harsh competition

With so many online publications offering news completely for free, print media faces quite a tough competition. While newspaper and magazine prices are not necessarily on the high end, they can’t really beat the fact that the same news can be read online free of cost. While big names, such as The Guardian or the New York Times still manage to retain at least part of their faithful readership base,  their customers are mostly represented by people over the age of 60, who have grown up in times when paper magazines were the norm.

4. It no longer sells a convenient product

Another reason why print media is dying out is the fact that its product is no longer convenient. Reading news online is far more comfortable than actually going out to get a copy of a newspaper. Furthermore, as more journalists choose the online realm for their endeavors, the quality of the news offered online matches the one offered by a paper magazine, thus leaving few reasons in favor of print media.

3. Interaction, and possibilities

One of the top 5 reasons why print media is a dying industry its inability to interact directly with the readers, which is something digital media is widely offering. There are options for commenting, leaving feedback and also for playing a role of journalist yourself, with so many blogs nowadays, and Facebook and Twitter having their role in everything. I mean, let’s face it, most of the people nowadays have the need to bring their more or less smart ideas open to the public. And with the Internet, everyone can do that. Print media is not offering the same options – neither for interaction nor for writing opportunities. Let’s be honest, not everyone can be a journalist working for the National Geographic Magazine for example.

2. The advent of digital technology

Over the past decade, digital technology has evolved by leaps and bounds, allowing us to connect to the world whenever and from wherever we are. In countries were digital technology is booming, print media seems to be declining at a faster pace. According to The Nation, over the past 20 years, US newspapers have experienced a 40% decline in readership base. As more and more Americans will turn to Vine, Twitter, or even Facebook for their daily news, readership bases are expected to decrease even more.

1. An outdated business model

One of the biggest reasons why companies or even entire industries die out is because their business model no longer matches the requirements and is unlikely to sustain itself in the long run. As technology has evolved, easy to carry Internet-connected gadgets have become the norm. People no longer need to purchase a newspaper or magazine, they can simply get the info they need directly from their phone, tablet, or laptop. This development has caused print media to become obsolete to some extent and there aren’t any signs that the situation will improve. In an environment focusing on efficiency and performance, print media’s business model simply doesn’t match the requirements anymore, and this is one of the top 5 reasons why print media is a dying industry, unfortunately.