From Paperboys to Modems: Print Media's Move to the Internet

Its no secret that publishers of traditional print media, such as newspapers and magazines, have long started putting their content online. However, with decreased readership of the traditional paper copies, mass adaptation of the internet, and wireless devices that can receive content on the go, many content producers are struggling to keep the business model which has worked in the past afloat. People simply aren't reading as many newspapers or magazines in print form as they used to, and companies are being forced to adapt by finding ways to profit from their online offerings. Some print publications, such as Ziff Davis Media's PC Magazine, are being cut completely and replaced by online versions, while others, such as the New York Times are losing money on the print business while trying to stay afloat. For my research paper I intend to analyze this phenomenon by examining other such occurrences, industry reports, and interviews with publishers and editors of both traditional and new media.

What is New Media?

As the internet evolved from static web pages to dynamic sites which provide users with all sorts of interactive functionality, a revolution in how we consume media, and the types of media we do consume, began to take form. Emerging technologies provided new mediums for distributing content and helped democratize its production. With sites like YouTube, Blogger, and Wikipedia you no longer needed a production company or a publication company to produce content. Anybody is now able to log on and put out everything they have to say within a matter of minutes, and distribute it to the world. The internet has revolutionized the way content is produced and distributed and has created an entirely new form of media on an entirely new medium.

This "new media" consists of various technologies, all using the internet as a platform. By connecting millions of people worldwide the internet has allowed us to share text, video, audio, and images in various forms and use them all to publish our own content without having to go through the traditional channels. Furthermore, the internet has allowed us to connect to each other, via social networking sites, and help further propagate this content across various networks. The social aspect of new media is very important in that most Web 2.0 technologies incorporate some sort of interactivity. It is everyones ability to share and to comment on everybody else's work that has really revolutionized our media intake.

Clive Thompson, in a Wired article titled "Clive Thompson on How YouTube Changes the Way We Think", talks about a YouTube user who stitched together 2000 comments he had received on a video into a voiceless montage. He says " All these people from across the globe convey something incredibly evocative while remaining completely mute." It is that ability to express yourself without having to stand out that has made new media so democratic. By providing a voice to the masses we are able to rid ourselves of the biases of traditional media, and give power back to the masses.

With this newfound shift of power, traditional media is being forced to adapt or back out. Newspaper revenues are down, television viewership is heading in the same direction, and all-in-all old media forms are slipping. It is no surprise viewers prefer content they can be a part of, rather than something produced by money-minded executives and they are making their voices heard on the internet. As grim as it sounds, this doesn't necessarily mean the end of old media though. Rather than throw in the towel many traditional outlets are starting to adapt by incorporating Twitter, Facebook, and even YouTube into their broadcasts. By connecting the new with the old they are attempting to retain an audience and prosper in the future. What the actual effect will be is yet to be determined.