Poll: The future of the printed word

[photog212]

First of all, I want to state that I'm new to the whole forum thing so if I screw something up, be nice and I'll do what I can to fix it. Thanks.

Anyway, I am a journalist, my existence is dependent upon the printed word. I freelance for several newspapers and make some extra cash selling short stories for publication. Recently, several large newspapers have had to make cutbacks (read layoffs) due to a lack of readership of their printed editions and drops in subscriptions. My friend an editor for a publishing company says his industry is feeling the same pressure. So, do you think less people are reading the news? Do you prefer short sound bites over in depth articles? Will the internet be the end to books, newspapers, and magazines, Or will people be getting their news from online editions? If so, will those E-editions contain text or just video clips?

And for clarity sake, newspapers and magazines gain their profit from advertising. The money you pay at the counter or subscription fees go towards printing and delivery. However, websites like ebay, craigslist, and others are killing ad revenue.

So to all of you, who, judging by the topics on this site are both informed of current events and obviously "tech savvy", please share your thoughts.

 

[perfectimo]

*SNIP*

I view information off the internet in the same way I view wikipedia as a encyclopedia. It's a starting point for knowledge, I prefer to read something over having it told to me anyday. It will be a sad day when we no longer have reading material in book form.

 

[AuntyEthel]

Where's the poll option for not dying?

Judging by the amount of Harry Potter and Twilight books sold, it isn't doing that badly. Maybe not as well as it used to, but that doesn't mean its dying.

 

[PuckFuppet]

Well personally I still get all my local news from the paper and its nice to read the opinions and analysis of writers whom I've been reading since I was a wee lad but still, I think the crippling thing about internet vs paper news is that internet news has links attached to it.

While like I said it is nice to read those opinions... its also good to see where they came from. However that is a double edged sword as I've always felt its been a journalists duty to get people to listen to their voice on a subject by providing proof beyond doubt as opposed to voicing an opinion and sticking a bunch of links at the end that support it...

But do I think less people are reading the news, no. In Ireland at the very least the number has stayed rather stable especially among local newspapers. Magazines however are a different story, in the UK and Ireland we had an explosion of Lads Mags a few years back and in what was termed the "Battle of the Breasts" each tried to outsell the competition by sticking eye candy on the front cover, now however I'm noticing that there is less of them on the shelves, infact I think at least half of them have gone under. Which isn't a bad thing actually but I think you get my point. The hardest hit by the new internet generation of news reporting are the large multinational magazines and papers. So I think that overall the number of people reading the news hasn't dropped but they've basically changed their focus now that most magazines have a website that pretty much gives you all you'd get for a cheaper subscription.

Do I prefer sound bites, no. Sometimes it is nice to hear a humorous little yak but for the most part I prefer being able to read a large well thought out article.

Again I can't answer clearly, I'd go with no personally. I like to read from a book, something that isn't electronic. I'd personally be worried if everything went digital.

To your final question... I think that for the most part we'll be seeing video clips. Proven fact, lots of people have a hard time reading, whereas when there's a pretty moving picture and nice sounds to help them understand, all is better.

 

[hypothetical fact]

It is the end to newspapers but not novels. Ever try reading a novel in PDF form? Exactly it screws up your eyes.

 

[TerraMGP]

You left out the 'its not dying the small surge between when most people could not read and when most people are too lazy or cheep to get the hard cover' option.

I had a Doctor who quote from "forest of the dead" but frankly I can't remember it just right, and can't find it so I will avoid enraging other who fans, but the point is that he was right when he mentioned that there is something special about books. Reading things off of a screen just lacks something substantial to the experience. Granted I am quote the bibliophile but I think most people will agree that no E-book has the same charm, the same comforting relaxing feeling as having a real paper book laying in front of you. you can't absorb yourself in it the same way and you can't enjoy it as freely.

It may be on the decline now, but it will never, ever die.

 

[Limos]

I don't think the printed word will ever truly die out. It may become uncommon, books being a collector edition rather than the starting point, but it will still be around.

However, I can confidentally say that the following forms of the printed word are dead. They all deserve their death.

-Phonebooks
-Magazines
-Catalogs
-Newspapers

They each are much better in digital form. Phonebooks especially have no place in society. They are a horrific waste of resources with no redeeming qualities that an online phonebook cannot match or exceed. They are inefficient and quickly fall out of date.

Newspapers are out of date from the moment they are printed. 90% of the paper is stuff that, frankly, is stupid and worthless. In digital form you only have to read the stories you actuallly care about.

Magazines in digital formm are far superior to their hardcopy counterparts. Just look at the Escapist. No game magazine has had more information that I actually care about than this.

 

[DoW Lowen]

I didn't vote because I don't agree with the provided answers, the printed word is still strong in my opinion. I know this because when I take the train home from Sydney everyone is reading a newspaper, or a novel or a magazine during peak hour. At university the administration and markers always prefers references from books as opposed to internet sources. And books are still strong, when I want to read I don't bring something with PDF or a laptop with me everywhere, I bring a book. In fact I just bought two today. The printed word is still strong, and the Internet isn't exactly a revenue killer by all means, it's just that the internet isn't currently a medium where you can properly judge the value and money it can produce and pay out to people accordingly, if that makes sense at all.

 

[DoW Lowen]

Whoops just to note as well, in terms of movies vs books. Alot of movies nowadays are being taken from books and two things are obvious

1) Books are always better than the movie remake, and that is why books will sell because after watching the movie they will read the book, because people generally know this.

2) As long as the film industry, or at least the mainstream ones, as long as they want to keep pumping out movies they are going to need professional writers and novelist to give them material.

 

[sequio]

Hm...didn't have the option of "not dying". I get headaches looking at digital prints for a long time, but i can read a book pretty much until i've finished it.

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

I say It will always be around, but I do agree that Kindle etc. are taking over. If they can come up with a screen that I can look at and read off that's not annoying to read then I wouldn't mind too much. As Is I always have trouble reading walls of text.

 

[The Great Fa]

As far as the news goes, I don't really care either way (although I probably should). But I just cannot live without books. If there were no books (the physical variety, mind you) that would be one quarter of my hobbies down the drain. I also hope to write a book, so if noone read it, that would be kind of lame.

 

[742]

words are words, computer or paper, both work. both are good. i like reading. i prefer getting information to having it given to me, call me stupid, but when absorbing stuff i like to be actively engaged in it. the big thing though is this: random access pwns sequential access. a written (whether printed or posted) is superior to a video story any day unless its something that specifically requires being seen in motion. oh, i also find that most video news is targeted at idiots. idiots dont like to read, and now they dont have to. printed word wont die, but it WILL enter a persistent vegetative state.

 

[Brokkr]

There is no option for not dying, so I refuse to take part in the poll option on this thread. I don't think that they will die out mainly because a number of people will always want to get their news from a newspaper and read a physical magazine.

 

[Combined]

I firmly believe that the whole wonder and feel of newspapers and books will never be replaced by any other medium. However, in the more modern parts of the world, the printed word is slowly dying and that makes me sad. Personally, I prefer reading printed things, because it somehow manages to capture my attention much more than anything on the internet.

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

So, do you think less people are reading the news? Do you prefer short sound bites over in depth articles? Will the internet be the end to books, newspapers, and magazines, Or will people be getting their news from online editions? If so, will those E-editions contain text or just video clips?

Personally, I find there is no substitute for a good, well-paced article that merges brevity with well-supported length. Frankly, I find movements like Twitter and Mini-Blogs to be a striking force against the art of well-written articles.

Personally, I don't think the internet will be the end of print, but could very easily herald a change in pace. From e-book readers to online publication like The Escapist, if anything, I find print is beginning to merge into the online community, and may very likely find a more primary home online or just electronically. Especially considering how much more inexpensive it is to produce, publish, and distribute online.

As far as video goes, I believe that a majority of newscasting will still be done in text, with video only serving as a supplement rather than a replacement. Quite frankly, I'm fond of both being present, and when executed well, really adds to an article in a pleasant way, supporting each other rather than replacing.

 

[Sylocat]

Novels are doing better than you'd think, and not just because of JKR. Check out the sales sometime, even no-name authors can do well.

However, some instances of the printed word serve no useful purpose, and those need to die. Phone books, for instance. 615,000,000 of these things get printed every year, and they make up at least 10% of the garbage at landfills.

 

[Zac_Dai]

Actual books won't die off but I hope newspapers do.

I'll celebrate the day when The Sun, The Mirror, The Daily Mail and all the other terrible tabloids kick the bucket.

As for magazines they are just to expensive. £6 a month for articles and information I could get for free off the internet? Thats the reason I'm here at the Escapist.

 

[goodman528]

I prefer the feel of paper to the computer screen. For some reason I read stuff double the speed if it's on paper compared to if it's on screen.

As for the "printed word", yes, it is dying. There are many people in our generation who has never read a single book out of school requirements, but have seen thousands of films. Old Chinese proverb says "Read a thousand books, go a thousand miles.", new Chinese proverb will say "Watch a thousand movies, go party in vegas!".