The status of the newspaper industry
The print newspaper has remained as one of the most reliable source of information for many people all over the world. Although there are several types of newspapers targeting different niche markets most of them try to appeal to the general market of readers providing content from various sources. The general newspaper appeals to more readers as it caters for different groups of people. The print newspaper is currently facing a number of challenges that have forced some media houses to go under. Over the years a number of leading newspapers have been shrinking as a result of the high cost of printing and publishing.
Generally the cost of operating printing services for the media houses that are running print newspapers has been skyrocketing. And although everything has been going up many of the media houses have been reluctant to hike their prices. This is because in most cases over the years an increase in the price of newspapers has always been received by a lowered uptake of the paper. This affects the bottom line of the organizations and as such increasing the price has not been one of the favored options. Rather most leaders of the media houses have been opting for more subtle measures that have seen the sizes of their papers get smaller. This has been in an effect to reduce their operation and production costs per newspaper.
The development of information technology has also dealt a major blow to the print newspaper. IT has changed the mode of operation for many businesses and the print newspaper has not been left out. The wise newspaper production companies have embraced the use of IT and its resources to survive the stiff market competition. Most of the print newspaper houses have had to generate content for publication online. This is because many people are now spending more time online conducting all manner of activities and statistics indicate that more newspaper readers read the online versions often.
This development has some how enabled many organizations to survive competition and at the same time lower their operational costs. But it has also had a negative impact on the organizational revenues. Some of the well managed newspapers have had to diversify into other lines of business as well to sustain their operations. However the print newspaper will be there in the next foreseeable future as there hasn’t been any major development to push this edition of the paper out of the market.