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Editor upbeat about future of newspapers
Sarah Impeciati
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: News
News as we now see it is not what it once was, and may not be what it could become. Currently, some fear that news will disappear altogether.
On April 14, Morning Call Editor Dave Erdman held a presentation about "the vanishing newspaper," during which he discussed the current state of the news and what it will become in the future.
"Journalism will survive," began Rob Hays, Associate Professor of Journalism, "although not necessarily in print. It is essential to a free society, to a democracy."
Erdman went on to say that the future of society is at stake for two reasons: there is panic that papers will disappear, and panic that the news will disappear with them.
However, when asked who had looked at a newspaper within the past week, about 80 percent of the audience raised their hands. Which represents well the 80 percent of those in the Lehigh Valley are currently reading the Morning Call; that's 8 out of 10 people. So the problem doesn't seem to be a lack of readers.
When asked who purchased a paper however, just three or four people said they had. When it comes to revenue, 80 percent comes from advertising, Erdman said. Circulation accounts for just 20 percent and, "That's the problem."
Although the newspaper itself may not thrive as it once had, technology helps the Morning Call to get news to its audience in a different form.
In 1996, the Morning Call launched their website and began posting stories online, at MCall.com.
"It became an environment of an electronic media," Erdman said. "We focused on getting it out there faster and faster."
Other technology, such as digital cameras, helps to speed up the process as well. What once took a day's time to complete can now take 30 seconds to complete-including posting it on the Web.
"Readers are showing a huge appetite online," Erdman said.
However, he did conclude that readers' appetites are for stories that never would have been considered news in the past.
On April 14, Morning Call Editor Dave Erdman held a presentation about "the vanishing newspaper," during which he discussed the current state of the news and what it will become in the future.
"Journalism will survive," began Rob Hays, Associate Professor of Journalism, "although not necessarily in print. It is essential to a free society, to a democracy."
Erdman went on to say that the future of society is at stake for two reasons: there is panic that papers will disappear, and panic that the news will disappear with them.
However, when asked who had looked at a newspaper within the past week, about 80 percent of the audience raised their hands. Which represents well the 80 percent of those in the Lehigh Valley are currently reading the Morning Call; that's 8 out of 10 people. So the problem doesn't seem to be a lack of readers.
When asked who purchased a paper however, just three or four people said they had. When it comes to revenue, 80 percent comes from advertising, Erdman said. Circulation accounts for just 20 percent and, "That's the problem."
Although the newspaper itself may not thrive as it once had, technology helps the Morning Call to get news to its audience in a different form.
In 1996, the Morning Call launched their website and began posting stories online, at MCall.com.
"It became an environment of an electronic media," Erdman said. "We focused on getting it out there faster and faster."
Other technology, such as digital cameras, helps to speed up the process as well. What once took a day's time to complete can now take 30 seconds to complete-including posting it on the Web.
"Readers are showing a huge appetite online," Erdman said.
However, he did conclude that readers' appetites are for stories that never would have been considered news in the past.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
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posted 11/30/09 @ 6:37 PM EST
I think that people are still interested in reading newspapers.
Liss
posted 1/25/10 @ 12:21 PM EST
There is just no way news can disappear, as long as humanity exists. This panic was created artifically.
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