I know my mother usually has my best interests at heart. But by god she needs to trust me when I say that my career as a newspaper reporter won’t ultimately leave me living in a cardboard box.
Ok, she doesn’t really say that. But she implies it. And she has no reason to. I’ll tell you why.
For years now, people have been decrying the end of the printed newspaper. We’re told people want their news faster than newspapers can deliver it. We’re told that people don’t want to read 500 word articles when they can get 30-second television clips or 140 character blips via Twitter. What can newspapers possibly have to offer?
Let’s start with storytelling. The best newswriting, for many many years, has come from newspapers. The printed newspaper offers more opportunities for multi-sensory experiences in storytelling than any other form of news outlet. News writers, because they only have their words, have to create scenes that appeal to all senses. It’s those stories that appeal to a reader’s five senses that are the most read, both in the printed copy and on a newspaper’s website.
I should also mention design. Newspapers are the unique position of being able to create news packages of photos, words and infographics (graphs, charts, tables and such) and lay them out in such a way that they present the story in a logical and interesting way to the reader. It’s not possible with television because you can only show one image at a time. And while it can be done on the Internet, it’s far harder to do well.
And then, of course, there’s quantity. Newspapers simply have more space to tell stories. Even a short (350-400 word) story contains far more information than a 30-second news clip on TV.
Last, though certainly not least, newspapers are by far the most tactile and interactive medium for news. A newspaper feels good in your hand. It’s easy to enjoy with a cup of coffee. Heck, I know people who can’t start their day if they don’t spend a half-hour sitting on the toilet with a newspaper and cup of coffee. While it sounds gross, it’s just one way that people enjoy newspapers. You interact with it. You enjoy it in your own way. And no other medium allows that to the degree newspapers do.
Now, why do these things matter in terms of the future of the printed newspaper? Simple. It’s that no matter what you say about how folks want their news delivered, the bottom line is they want solid reporting and writing. And newspapers will continue to be the only medium that can consistently provide that.
It’s funny because 10 years ago, when I was a mere freshman in high school, I had to do a research paper for an English class. My paper? The Future of the Printed Newspaper. In it, I laid out my predictions about whether newspapers will survive into a new century. And I said they would. I also predicted that they’d go through hard times until editors and managers learned how to use the print and web editions of the paper correctly and ensure that people read both. And ultimately, I predicted that the printed newspaper isn’t going anywhere.
And let me tell you, my predictions have, for the most part, come true. Newspapers are (slowly but surely) adapting to technology and finding ways to keep up with it. They are also finding ways to keep people reading the print product, while still giving them timely, breaking news on the web. It’s a slow process, since, by and large, most of the folks who run newspapers are the old-school print guys who would still use typewriters if they had the chance. But those folks are either being forced to adapt or are retiring. And once there are no longer folks in charge who fear change, newspapers will be just fine.
And though my mom won’t read this, I say this to her: I’ll be fine. Don’t you worry.
