More Bad News for Newspapers

[Rob Sullivan]

We covered the rapid decline of print media in my American government course this semester.  This discussion included a summary of the connecting role papers played in local communities across the country.  The Internet and the instant gratification news cycle hit local papers hard as did competing option for advertising revenue.

How bad has it gotten for the local daily?  Real advertising revenues which comprise the largest chunk of operating revenue for papers has fallen to 1950 levels!!!!  additionally, New Jersey's largest paper is cutting 40 news jobs.

[Sandra Billups]

The rapid decline of print media is alarming but not surprising. I believe as we continue to lose print media sources, the quality of news we receive will diminish in addition to the loss of community connectedness. Thanks to new media, we can all tailor our news to suit our personal tastes. However, when I’m on the Internet, it is difficult to discern true news from social media hype. My concern is that because we can choose the type of news we receive, and we can view sources whose views align with our own, we risk developing a one-sided view of the world.

In the Political Science class I attend, I learned the loss of revenue makes it difficult to pay journalists and producers. Without the benefit of researched articles from reputable sources, we all run the risk of falling prey to sensationalistic, unverified personal reports. My faith tells me to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15, KJV). I would suggest viewing several different news sources because without viewing various valid viewpoints, one has no truth to divide.

[Jonda Lehrmann]

I know this will sound strange to some but I do not like the feel of newspaper so I would never buy one.  I grew up watching the news on tv but the news seemed to just show the bad and scary things so I stopped watching the broadcast news.  Over the past few years I started to watch the news again and really enjoy the morning news.  However, you see more and more about Hollywood and the current new make up or bathing suit to wear.  The reporters at the desk show a sense of humor and not the serious Walter Cronkite.  I know my parents and grandparents loved reading the newspaper and my mom still reads it today.  

In our class we learned about "old media" and why its dying out and one reason is because the paper has an older generation consuming that particular media.  Today we have Fox News and other sources online where we can see what is happening as it is occurring unlike the printed newspapers that only come once a day.  One of the dangers of print news journalism becoming less important is that a lot of young talented journalist who would benefit that genre of reporting the news would be leaving their profession or not getting involved in the profession due to the lack of opportunity in that media.  Its important to discern what the truth is and the sources of this news is legitimate. 

[Ronnie Edwards]

The paper in New Jersey sounds like the local daily from my hometown.  Since the internet has taken over for how people view the news, the Times Daily has allocated only 10 articles per 30 day period.  That way anyone can view the paper and read an article that is found via an internet search but for the local people that read the paper (web articles) can subscribe for a fee for unlimited views of articles. That may be the way of the future for most papers that are struggling with the new fad to read papers electronically.