Recently, two major newspapers circulated their final print publications: The Rocky Mountain News in Denver and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Similar fates may await the San Francisco Chronicle and the Boston Globe, and several newspaper groups have previously filed bankruptcy. These actions have re-sparked conversations about the future of print media in the face of growing digital outlets. How do you want to choose to truly get your news? Are you still getting a newspaper simply out of habit? What’re the digital-age options, and what’ll work best for you personally?
After their hay day in the 1940s, newspapers have noticed gradual decline in circulation and advertising revenue. First, the decline was blamed on television’s increasing popularity and now comfortable access to internet sites, podcasts and social networking feeds further threaten the medium.
Newspapers Go Digital
Most newspapers have recognized the requirement to create an online presence. Actually, even although the Seattle Post-Intelligencer halted its print edition, its web site lives on. pool result In the event that you haven’t already, find the online version of your favorite local, national or international publication and explore new methods to “read exactly about it.”
Newspapers have struggled with discovering the right revenue model for providing online use of content. Some allow it to be available free and rely solely on revenue from online advertisers. Others newspapers may require registration or even charge a fee for access for some content. And, others still allow it to be easy, and free, to see today’s headlines but charge for downloading content from the archives.
Many newspaper internet sites offer RSS feeds which will deliver the news right in to a digital feed reader like Google Reader or NewsGator. You’re also likely to get several alternatives for having newsletters brought to your email inbox that cover daily events, breaking news or your own custom-selected topics.
If you’re on the market for a second-hand bike or you’re launching employment search, most newspapers’ sites provide online tools which can be simpler to browse and search compared to the print version. Plus, your fingers will always be clean!
Of course, if you’re on the market for used goods you might be more prone to visit popular and growing sites like eBay or Craigslist. And, if your new job is in your future, CareerBuilder and Monster probably arrived at mind. Actually, many newspapers have partnered with sites like CareerBuilder to offer their searchable, online job postings.
Newspapers aren’t the only real “traditional” media to go digital. Most local and national television stations also deliver news via their web sites. The biggies like CNN, MSNBC and Fox News maintain their reputation for breaking big news first online along with off. You are able to register because of their “breaking news” email alerts to be among the first to know.
Somebody must break the news, and in today’s digital world, it’s not necessarily a reporter. Real people involved with real situations can post their experiences straight to internet sites or social networking feeds like Twitter or Facebook. When you yourself have a narrow field of interest, you could find that you get better “reporting” from individuals who share your interests.
Accessing your newspaper digitally may seem great, but you certainly can’t take your PC to the area coffee shop. Today there are plenty of easier, and lighter-weight, options to take the news with you.
When you yourself have a good phone just like the iPhone or BlackBerry, you can easily view mobile-ready versions of popular news sites. Or, scan the headlines in your email newsletters then click when you need to see more. Your phone’s browser should take you right where you want to go.
For a somewhat more traditional experience, you need to use an electronic device like Amazon’s Kindle 2 and donate to newspapers electronically. You won’t waste paper, and you’ll still have today’s edition at your fingertips.
For a few, the appeal of newspapers goes beyond reading about yesterday’s events. You might just like the tactile connection with flipping by way of a pile of newsprint or scratching the right path through the daily crossword. No digital media will replace that.
For others, however, hanging on to a newspaper subscription is all about getting advertisements and coupons you might otherwise miss. Advertisers don’t want to miss you either. In anticipation of declining newspaper readership, they’ve found new methods to digitally share ads and coupons. Target, WalMart, JCPenney’s and other retailers provide electronic replicas of the weekly circulars on their web sites. Actually, Target has occasionally skipped newspaper distribution completely to operate a vehicle more traffic to its site. Get the ads on your favorite retailers’ sites, or check out Sunday Saver for quick links.
If you’re a coupon clipper, consider becoming a coupon printer. You are able to seek out precisely the coupons you would like instead of being lured into buying products you otherwise wouldn’t if you hadn’t found a coupon in the Sunday paper. Begin with your favorite store’s or brand’s site for great deals. You’ll also find great sites designed to help you find and organize coupons such as Coupons.com, CouponMom, Coupon Cabin and others.
