Relevance of Print Journalism

Shivi Chaudhary

RELEVANCE OF PRINT JOURNALISM
A sentiment that seems universally accepted in today’s age is that “print journalism is dead!”.
With falling advertising revenues, migrating audiences and the many lucrative benefits of
online media, it seems almost natural to conclude that print journalism is in fact heading
towards its demise. However, if one makes the effort to give the issue a second glance it
becomes blatantly clear that, while the print industry is going through a transitional phase it is
far from becoming extinct.
The intricate machinery of print media has triumphed in ensuring that the information that is
spread to the audiences is accurate, well researched and credible with studies showing that
over 60% of consumers consider print media to be more trustworthy.i Print journalism also
brings into question the tangibility of media. While the library of the internet offers one
infinite resource, there is no possibility of exercising ownership over it. A newspaper clipping
from a century ago is preservable however an article online could be easily lost into the
cyberspace with no trace. Something that print has been able to offer for centuries now has
been a sense of community and culture. Communities gathering to read letters and
advertisements, children collecting coupons, fathers drinking tea with a newspaper in hand
and mothers collecting magazines, these are all examples that have been carved into cultures
to the point of becoming archetypes. Taking away print journalism is to alienate communities
and loot the cultures that rely on print to broadcast information. A vital component in the
discussion of relevance of print journalism is the factor of privilege, and how digital media is
still inaccessible to a large part of the population. The notion that print journalism is declining
is largely a western construct which neglects developing and underdeveloped nations where
print continues to be the primary source of information dissemination. For example, India
has witnessed a steady increase in print circulation with the total circulation of 39,17,12,282
copies per circulation day in 2021, showing an increase of 1.35% over 2020 ii
In the constantly changing landscape of media and media consumption, print journalism
continues to prove its relevance. Over the years print journalism has been able to provide
comprehensive and credible information to communities all over the world. While the print
industry itself has gone through several revolutions in the face of technological advances, it
has always found ways to adapt and survive. It is safe to assume that print journalism is here
to stay as it prepares itself to meet the challenges of the future. iii
i Debashish Rout, A Comparative Analysis of Credibility of Print Media & Social Media, International
Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 2022
ii Office of Registrar of Newspapers for India, Press in India, 2021-22
Reference
1. Samantha Barthelemy, The Future of Print Media, Capstone Report 2011
2. Udenze Silas, Print Media and the Challenges of Social Media, International Journal of Advanced
Research and Publications, 2018
3. Hillel Nosek, Is Print Media Really Dying?, International Journal of Communication, 2015