Asher Ricard

The Death of The Newspaper: Should Organizations Charge For News?



Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009

by Asher Ricard

Recently as I left a store, a newspaper salesman trapped me before I could get to the car. You know the kind where they are desperately trying to push you into purchasing something and refusing to give up with a simple, "no, thank you."

Since he was pushing, I decided to push back.

"I don't need a paper. I read my news online," I said in a nice tone.

His response was predictable since he was after all trying to make a sale and probably heard that excuse all day. He pushed the coupon angle. "You will pay for your paper with the amount of coupons you get," he said. "Plus online news will not last."

I informed him that I print coupons off the internet every day and still did not need his newspaper. He informed me that was illegal. I informed him that the same coupons that are in his paper are offered from the manufacturers, from the publisher of those coupons as well as many websites legally.

Again, I politely said, "no thank you" and tried to walk past.

He then informed me that he could offer me a deal in which the entire newspaper was emailed to me each day. Not sure what the point is in that since I never read the entire newspaper when I received it, but instead skimmed for important stories. A task that is much easier to do online.

Again, I politely said, "no thank you" and tried to walk past.

He informed me that "I would be sorry since online news could not last.

I was really irked when I finally made it to the car. First, note to salesmen, women with kids really do not want to be stopped. It is too much keeping the kids in line to have these discussions. Second, don't try to sell something that is a dying market.

My husband and I have been discussing this issue for weeks. I started to feel bad for the journalists because there really is no need for paper printed news anymore. By the time it hits the stands, it is old news. Our local paper probably kills a whole forest each time it prints. No one wants to add to their waste and sales are down when it comes to papers.

Then, my husband pointed out something monumental. The journalists are already diversifying. Our local sports writers also write for online sports, some work in radio and others freelance for magazines. They even know the newspaper is dying.

The story today out of the UK is that the UK's biggest newspaper firms ran by Johnston Press is to charge for access to online content from six of its titles. Will these type of tactics save the newspaper?

Here are my thoughts (since you care and all).

Newspapers should not charge for online information. But they should stop completely or reduce their size of their printed papers for several reasons.

One, it is old news by the time it hits the stands. Two, in reality most people get news from online.

So how would a paper make money?

The same way they do now. Sell ads. Ads on a website can bring in more revenue. They can offer more targeted markets and more international exposure. The opportunities are endless.

I do believe that something does need to be done and maybe charging a minimal fee is not a bad thing in the first step to solving the issue. I just believe the sooner publishers face reality and research alternatives, the better off they will end up.

The longer you try to coast on printed papers, the longer before the inevitable happens and they are forced to face bankruptcy. Be proactive and learn the new technology. Don't blame the consumers for the industry dying.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by kenny
from fall river 2 years 156 days ago.
Good read Asher.
 
One other important thing that I think separates online news from that of the newspapers is the forums. I believe the forums and comments about the news items I read on the internet are just as valuable as the articles themselves.
 
Reading an online article with up to the minute forums and post, gives us a multitude of reader perspectives we never got from a newspaper. The internet allows us voice, and personalizes the articles we choose to read.
 
However I will say, if the newspaper does become a thing of the past I will miss it when I stop at any one of my favorite places for breakfast. I always enjoy reading while I wait for my order. I can't imagine me carrying my computer into a diner. :)
 
Thanks: Kenny
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