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In today’s society, technology has enhanced media in many ways. No longer do you need to buy a newspaper from the paperboy for five cents or spread news by word of mouth. Instead, consumers can also access news on cell phones, computers, radio, and television through many different channels. As multimedia progresses, newspapers are becoming endangered. Recently, my professor told my social worlds class that “newsprint will die in the US in 2043.”

Many newspapers have had trouble during the current economic period.  For example, the Tribune Company declared bankruptcy and some newspapers were forced to fold.  Others, however, have embraced the current financial troubles and moved their newspapers to paperless.  One paper, the Seattle Post- Intelligencer, is now found only online.  Is cost the only reason or are consumer’s demands changing?  Are these changes good or bad and how will it affect consumers in the long run?

I do not know the answers to these questions, but I believe newspapers are important. They provide the consumer (reader) with information on various subjects such as feature stories, editorials, current news, and advertising. Other types of media also provide the same content, but it is nice to read the hard copy.

Today, people spend hours around a screen, whether it is the television or a computer, but I personally like the hard copy version.  I firmly believe that if something like hard copy works for certain people, then why change it. If newspapers continue to be published, news will have one more outlet to get to the public and it will continue to provide one more option for more people to get the news and be involved. Newspapers have been in circulation for hundreds of years and it would be a shame for the U.S. to go completely paperless.

 MPR News has great insight into newspapers going paperless. Please listen to their audio program.