Essay 1: Doomed or Digital? The Uncertain Future of Newspapers
This is my first essay for junior year. It's about the uncertain future of newspapers. Before writing our essays we had to do three research responses where we found sources and evaluated them. We did a lot of peer editing and often worked in groups with students writing on the same or a related topic. Other times, we were paired with people who were strong in areas that we were not, and vice versa. Then, after countless drafts, we turned in our final essays for grading. When we got them back, we had the opportunity to revise them for a higher grade.
This is what I had to revise:
-Transitions
Reason: I didn't have very many transitions in my essay. Without transitions an essay can sound choppy and ideas may not flow was well. By adding transitions I was able to increase the flow of my essay making it easier to read.
-Numbers to letters
Reason: I had some percents as numbers, when they should have been numbers. The rule is that a number has to be spelled out if it is smaller than a three-digit number, unless it is starting a sentence.
-Explanations
Reason: Sometimes I would mention something in my essay without explaining. This may have caused people to not understand my argument as well. By explaining things people won't question my writing and will be able to better understand what I am saying.
This is what I had to revise:
-Transitions
Reason: I didn't have very many transitions in my essay. Without transitions an essay can sound choppy and ideas may not flow was well. By adding transitions I was able to increase the flow of my essay making it easier to read.
-Numbers to letters
Reason: I had some percents as numbers, when they should have been numbers. The rule is that a number has to be spelled out if it is smaller than a three-digit number, unless it is starting a sentence.
-Explanations
Reason: Sometimes I would mention something in my essay without explaining. This may have caused people to not understand my argument as well. By explaining things people won't question my writing and will be able to better understand what I am saying.
Here is my final essay, before edits from Pam, after it was graded:
Doomed or Digital?
The Sunday morning paper you read with your coffee may not be on actual paper anymore. With an increase in the use of technology over the past decade and a half, more and more newspaper publishers are producing online versions of their papers. In 1690, one of the largest news mediums in America was created. In the 1970s, newspaper readership in the United States was still strong with more than eighty-percent of middle-aged citizens reading their daily papers. Since then, however, newspaper circulation and popularity have been on a downhill slide. In the 1990s, newspaper circulation declined ten-percent. And over the past fifty years, the number of daily newspapers produced has dropped more than seventeen-percent. All of these negative numbers raise the question: are newspapers doomed? Due to the decline of circulation and resulting loss of revenue, the newspaper industry could be in danger. Some companies are also concerned about making a successful financial transition to the Internet, because there is so much competition for advertisers that there’s just not a lot of money to be made from them online. Despite these concerns, newspapers are not doomed for extinction because they have made numerous changes to stay successful and relevant.
Since newspapers started moving online they have been able to bring back “breaking news” coverage. That type of coverage became rare when newspaper circulation started declining because publishers started printing fewer daily issues. That meant readers did not get as much current or “breaking news” because editions were released only every couple of days. Sara Scott, Community News Director of the City Patriot in Jackson, Michigan, says they have changed the way they think and that they are more real time (Steinle and Brown 3). Over the past decade Internet popularity has boomed, increasing the number of people online, which means more people looking for news online. With this increase in online newspaper readership, companies have had to adjust. The managing editor of Kansas’ Lawrence Journal-World says, “When we get together for our morning meeting each day, we’re not thinking print first; we’re thinking web first” (Steinle and Brown 2). A lot of the successful companies, like Kansas’ Lawrence Journal-World, have moved online to stay successful. More and more newspaper companies are following suit. Another factor contributing to the success of newspapers is the creation of hyperlocal websites. A hyperlocal website is one that has a place for someone to enter a zip code, so the site can provide more specific news coverage for that reader (Steinle and Brown 4). For example, if someone lives in the Clairemont area of San Diego, and provides that zip code, then the website could provide that person with news relevant to that specific area. By doing this, newspapers are tailoring the news at the reader’s request, adding to the reader’s satisfaction.
Some people say that moving online isn’t going to help keep newspapers alive because there is so much competition for advertisers. Additionally, online ads sell for only five to ten-percent of what comparable ads would sell for in traditional print editions. If the industry isn’t making money online through advertising or through print editions, they seem headed toward extinction. But what most people do not realize is that the industry has come up with multiple other ways to be profitable online. One of those things is called a paywall. In their article about newspapers embracing the future, Paul Steinle and Sara Brown describe paywalls as publishing “local headlines, calendars and Associated Press copy on a free site. But only paid subscribers get access to the complete array of digital news and information” (7). Essentially, newspapers will give small news headlines and information away for free, but if people want the full stories, they have to pay for them. By doing this, newspapers are able to compensate for some of the revenue they would normally get from print editions. Another strategy companies are using to be successful financially is called a free paper. Most free papers are shorter news “tabloids” that are designed to be read on a short commute to work in the morning. Mary Nesbitt, Managing Director of Northwestern’s Readership Institute describes free papers as “A way of getting people into the newspaper habit” (Jost 3). The belief is that free papers would get people into the habit of reading papers, and that if they were reading free papers, they would start reading established papers they have to purchase. Another reason that newspapers are not doomed is because of what are called “Swiss army knife reporters.” Such a reporter is one who is able to do a little bit of everything, and has a diverse skill set (Steinle and Brown 4). As newspapers have moved online, some have also added video reports. This means reporters need to know how to write well and be familiar with technology. By hiring these kinds of reporters, newspapers are able to have smaller staffs, thereby saving money.
Many newspaper publishers have made it a priority to become more community oriented, and returned to the traditional commitment of serving the public. This has resulted in better news coverage. That’s very different than a decade ago when a lot of publicly traded newspaper companies seemed to be more concerned with making a profit than providing quality newspapers. According to Kenneth Jost, who wrote “Future of Newspapers,” some newspaper companies were more focused on stock prices and profitability than they were concerned with news or even the quality of their news coverage (12). Newspapers that provide quality news attract readers, which in turn provides a profit. Another move that has made papers more successful at attracting readers is using fewer reporters. While that started out as a way to save money, it has actually forced papers to be more focused or selective in their news coverage. For example, Vermont’s Burlington Free Press has its reporters focus on writing about “passion topics,” which include economics, politics and culture (Steinle and Brown 4). When reporters focus on substantive, quality topics that are more relevant to citizens and readers, people are more inclined to read the paper. Additionally, some newspapers are relying on volunteer reporters in their communities for stories. This means papers have reporters who are motivated to make a difference by contributing articles on subjects of their expertise, rather than motivated by putting out a product for profit. The Deseret News in Salt Lake City does this by using 4,000 different volunteer reporters (Steinle and Brown 5). Through making these changes, newspapers across the country are increasing the quality of their papers, which can bring back readers.
The newspaper industry may have looked like it was dying, but by making substantial changes in operations and finding new ways to attract readers, it has resuscitated itself and transitioned to online success. By transforming their formats and moving online, newspapers are reshaping their industry. While they are expanding into new ways of doing business, they are also returning to their roots by focusing on communities and making a difference in them. We, as citizens, in turn, can make a difference for newspapers by buying them and reading them. Newspapers play an important role in our democratic society, and in order for our democracy to work, we need to be informed on local and national issues. Newspapers moving online is keeping them successful and keeping America informed. It’s a win-win.
Bibliography:
Jost, Kenneth. “Future of Newspapers.” CQ Researcher. 30 May 2007. CQ Researcher
Online. 17 Apr. 2013. <http://library.cqpress.com/cqreseacher/cqressre/200612000>.
Steinle, Paul and Brown, Sara. “Embracing the Future.” American Journalism Review.
Apr. 5 2012. AJR.org. Apr. 24 2013. <http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=5295>.
Doomed or Digital?
The Sunday morning paper you read with your coffee may not be on actual paper anymore. With an increase in the use of technology over the past decade and a half, more and more newspaper publishers are producing online versions of their papers. In 1690, one of the largest news mediums in America was created. In the 1970s, newspaper readership in the United States was still strong with more than eighty-percent of middle-aged citizens reading their daily papers. Since then, however, newspaper circulation and popularity have been on a downhill slide. In the 1990s, newspaper circulation declined ten-percent. And over the past fifty years, the number of daily newspapers produced has dropped more than seventeen-percent. All of these negative numbers raise the question: are newspapers doomed? Due to the decline of circulation and resulting loss of revenue, the newspaper industry could be in danger. Some companies are also concerned about making a successful financial transition to the Internet, because there is so much competition for advertisers that there’s just not a lot of money to be made from them online. Despite these concerns, newspapers are not doomed for extinction because they have made numerous changes to stay successful and relevant.
Since newspapers started moving online they have been able to bring back “breaking news” coverage. That type of coverage became rare when newspaper circulation started declining because publishers started printing fewer daily issues. That meant readers did not get as much current or “breaking news” because editions were released only every couple of days. Sara Scott, Community News Director of the City Patriot in Jackson, Michigan, says they have changed the way they think and that they are more real time (Steinle and Brown 3). Over the past decade Internet popularity has boomed, increasing the number of people online, which means more people looking for news online. With this increase in online newspaper readership, companies have had to adjust. The managing editor of Kansas’ Lawrence Journal-World says, “When we get together for our morning meeting each day, we’re not thinking print first; we’re thinking web first” (Steinle and Brown 2). A lot of the successful companies, like Kansas’ Lawrence Journal-World, have moved online to stay successful. More and more newspaper companies are following suit. Another factor contributing to the success of newspapers is the creation of hyperlocal websites. A hyperlocal website is one that has a place for someone to enter a zip code, so the site can provide more specific news coverage for that reader (Steinle and Brown 4). For example, if someone lives in the Clairemont area of San Diego, and provides that zip code, then the website could provide that person with news relevant to that specific area. By doing this, newspapers are tailoring the news at the reader’s request, adding to the reader’s satisfaction.
Some people say that moving online isn’t going to help keep newspapers alive because there is so much competition for advertisers. Additionally, online ads sell for only five to ten-percent of what comparable ads would sell for in traditional print editions. If the industry isn’t making money online through advertising or through print editions, they seem headed toward extinction. But what most people do not realize is that the industry has come up with multiple other ways to be profitable online. One of those things is called a paywall. In their article about newspapers embracing the future, Paul Steinle and Sara Brown describe paywalls as publishing “local headlines, calendars and Associated Press copy on a free site. But only paid subscribers get access to the complete array of digital news and information” (7). Essentially, newspapers will give small news headlines and information away for free, but if people want the full stories, they have to pay for them. By doing this, newspapers are able to compensate for some of the revenue they would normally get from print editions. Another strategy companies are using to be successful financially is called a free paper. Most free papers are shorter news “tabloids” that are designed to be read on a short commute to work in the morning. Mary Nesbitt, Managing Director of Northwestern’s Readership Institute describes free papers as “A way of getting people into the newspaper habit” (Jost 3). The belief is that free papers would get people into the habit of reading papers, and that if they were reading free papers, they would start reading established papers they have to purchase. Another reason that newspapers are not doomed is because of what are called “Swiss army knife reporters.” Such a reporter is one who is able to do a little bit of everything, and has a diverse skill set (Steinle and Brown 4). As newspapers have moved online, some have also added video reports. This means reporters need to know how to write well and be familiar with technology. By hiring these kinds of reporters, newspapers are able to have smaller staffs, thereby saving money.
Many newspaper publishers have made it a priority to become more community oriented, and returned to the traditional commitment of serving the public. This has resulted in better news coverage. That’s very different than a decade ago when a lot of publicly traded newspaper companies seemed to be more concerned with making a profit than providing quality newspapers. According to Kenneth Jost, who wrote “Future of Newspapers,” some newspaper companies were more focused on stock prices and profitability than they were concerned with news or even the quality of their news coverage (12). Newspapers that provide quality news attract readers, which in turn provides a profit. Another move that has made papers more successful at attracting readers is using fewer reporters. While that started out as a way to save money, it has actually forced papers to be more focused or selective in their news coverage. For example, Vermont’s Burlington Free Press has its reporters focus on writing about “passion topics,” which include economics, politics and culture (Steinle and Brown 4). When reporters focus on substantive, quality topics that are more relevant to citizens and readers, people are more inclined to read the paper. Additionally, some newspapers are relying on volunteer reporters in their communities for stories. This means papers have reporters who are motivated to make a difference by contributing articles on subjects of their expertise, rather than motivated by putting out a product for profit. The Deseret News in Salt Lake City does this by using 4,000 different volunteer reporters (Steinle and Brown 5). Through making these changes, newspapers across the country are increasing the quality of their papers, which can bring back readers.
The newspaper industry may have looked like it was dying, but by making substantial changes in operations and finding new ways to attract readers, it has resuscitated itself and transitioned to online success. By transforming their formats and moving online, newspapers are reshaping their industry. While they are expanding into new ways of doing business, they are also returning to their roots by focusing on communities and making a difference in them. We, as citizens, in turn, can make a difference for newspapers by buying them and reading them. Newspapers play an important role in our democratic society, and in order for our democracy to work, we need to be informed on local and national issues. Newspapers moving online is keeping them successful and keeping America informed. It’s a win-win.
Bibliography:
Jost, Kenneth. “Future of Newspapers.” CQ Researcher. 30 May 2007. CQ Researcher
Online. 17 Apr. 2013. <http://library.cqpress.com/cqreseacher/cqressre/200612000>.
Steinle, Paul and Brown, Sara. “Embracing the Future.” American Journalism Review.
Apr. 5 2012. AJR.org. Apr. 24 2013. <http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=5295>.
You can download my essay here:
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