Will Newspapers ever be obsolete

James FrederickJames Frederick Posts: 53,184
Forum Member
Something in another thread made me think will newspapers ever be obsolete.

First off with the internet giving the news for free why pay for it?

Plus the fact is that with the internet we are more often more up to date with the news than the newspaper is by the time it hits the shelves.

Even reading when out and about now with the advent of Smartphones and Tablets it's easier to take the internet on the move with you so you can read it on the bus train whatever.

I don't think it will happen yet but I think it will sooner or later sales must be falling even if those former buyers are the ones who now look at the papers website.

Will Newspapers ever be obsolete 35 votes

Yes
62% 22 votes
No
37% 13 votes

Comments

  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 22,309
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    In terms of being delivered in the physical paper format, yes, seems inevitable they will one day be obsolete. Will the newspapers still exist in online fashion? Seems probable.
  • Mr DangerousMr Dangerous Posts: 902
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    Think of all those trees that will be saved...
  • AvidianAvidian Posts: 6,043
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    That reminds me, I need to buy some Newspapers to clean my windows :p
  • James FrederickJames Frederick Posts: 53,184
    Forum Member
    solarflare wrote: »
    In terms of being delivered in the physical paper format, yes, seems inevitable they will one day be obsolete. Will the newspapers still exist in online fashion? Seems probable.

    Oh yes I agree they will still be online I did mean more as a physical item.
  • elliecatelliecat Posts: 9,890
    Forum Member
    people will still want to read an actual paper, the same way people still want to read an actual book and not one on an e-reader. Not everyone has a smart phone or tablet computer and not everyone wants one.

    I get a paper everyday, I sit in my car in the car park at work and skim through it whilst I wait for the building to be unlocked. I sit outside at lunch-time and read it or on the beach/in the garden in the summer.
  • HorizonPeteHorizonPete Posts: 181
    Forum Member
    Think of all those trees that will be saved...

    A lot of them are using recycled paper now or at least part of the paper is from recycled material.

    I don't think they'll become obsolete entirely given how many are still sold. They are more likely to adapt their format, actually I think we'll get "Minority Report" style 'papers' in the near future.

    Personally I prefer the printed version, same for books.
  • TelevisionUserTelevisionUser Posts: 41,404
    Forum Member
    Will Newspapers ever be obsolete?

    At some future stage, probably. Younger people increasingly use electronic media to access their news and newspaper readers are gradually dying off so there is an inexorable trend there.

    Whilst newspaper circulations have been in decline for years now, specialist magazines seem to be holding up relatively well in comparison and so there might be a role for them (and printed books) in the future.
  • dosanjh1dosanjh1 Posts: 8,727
    Forum Member
    I would suggest (I don't know for sure) that more papers are being printed than ever before if you take into account the freebies given away at train stations. I was outside an underground station yesterday and there were 5 stacks of different give away papers and that's not including The Metro or The Standard.

    Print news will not go away but it will become more local.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 7,440
    Forum Member
    elliecat wrote: »
    people will still want to read an actual paper, the same way people still want to read an actual book and not one on an e-reader. Not everyone has a smart phone or tablet computer and not everyone wants one.

    I get a paper everyday, I sit in my car in the car park at work and skim through it whilst I wait for the building to be unlocked. I sit outside at lunch-time and read it or on the beach/in the garden in the summer.

    Whilst people may want to read an actual paper or book, the deciding factor is always going to be cost. If the cost out weighs the revenue of sales then hard copy will be dispensed with.

    Dosanjh1 mentioned the free papers like The Metro and The Standard. I use North Greenwich Station quite a lot. It used to be quite difficult to get a Metro there but now I go to that station around noon and pick one up quite easily.
    I also occasionally use a smaller suburban London BR station that has the Metro. Just one twin container which again used to be empty quickly, but occasionally I've got a Metro from there even as late as 4pm-5pm.

    Whethere it's because of e-readers, tablets or people just don't want to read on the trains anymore which is not easy at the best of times in rush hour I don't know, but whatever the reason is, less appear to be picked up now.
  • trphiltrphil Posts: 2,931
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    Think of all those trees that will be saved...

    I realise this was probably a tongue in cheek comment but just in case it wasn't, demand for wood pulp for paper manufacture is the main reason for tree planting. :cool:
  • Residents FanResidents Fan Posts: 9,204
    Forum Member
    solarflare wrote: »
    Will the newspapers still exist in online fashion? Seems probable.

    Yes. I think people will still want to look at "The Times"
    "The Guardian", "The Washington Post", "The Irish Times"
    etc. online. People tend to have loyalties to particular
    papers that they may carry on online.
  • SilvioDanteSilvioDante Posts: 2,561
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    I look at the online editions of newspapers, but wouldn't dream of paying to read them online i.e The Times. I still like a "physical" newspaper to sit down with a cup of tea or on the train etc.
  • cantoscantos Posts: 7,368
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    In London the most read newspapers are free and I think that may well be their future.
  • AnitaSAnitaS Posts: 4,079
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    I read the Metro in the morning while commuting to work by public transport and the free version of the local paper on the way home, I never buy a paper and I only ever look at online newspapers if I click on a link on this forum.
  • HorizonPeteHorizonPete Posts: 181
    Forum Member
    I used to pick up a Metro when I lived in Cardiff but wasn't impressed by it. The I is on a similar line to that but much better and only 20p, so you can't go wrong.

    More of it will go online as others have stated but I think they'll have to rework their current online formats as those you can access for free aren't always easy to navigate.
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