Is Print Media Really Dying? It May Be in Tulsa
- Hayden Klein
- Mar 13, 2019
- 2 min read
A hot debate amongst journalist and their active audiences is whether or not print media is dissolving, and how that will impact journalism as a whole, as well as the careers associated with it.
The Impact of Digital Transformation in the Media and Entertainment Sector report, produced by Econsultancy and Adobe, reports that 97% of the media companies surveyed believe the digitization of the media and entertainment departs has in some way affected their business. On top of this, the general consensus is that the new and old generations are moving to quicker, easier, and cheaper news sources offered digitally.
The digital news revolution is undeniable. A Pew Research Center survey in 2017 revealed that 68% of adults get as least some of their news through Facebook alone, a completely digital service that was originally made to connect with friends and family. That number has likely risen within the last 2 years.
While some of these facts may come as no surprise, what may be surprising is that this situation hits very close to home.
A local anonymous source reports that they believe the Tulsa World, the local newspaper and printing shop in the heart of downtown Tulsa, is struggling with keeping production up as print media has become so expensive and unprofitable. The source spoke that the Tulsa World print shop mostly profits from print jobs sent from Oklahoma City or print jobs for large newspapers and magazines being distributed locally. The source also believes that the print editions of the Tulsa World “won’t last another year.”
The Tulsa World, as with most other newspaper companies, has moved quite a bit to digitally formatted articles and reporting. An entire section of the website is dedicated to “E-Editions”. The Tulsa World’s prices for print editions have also increased over the year, with the Sunday issue currently sitting at $2.50 each.
While the facts on the decline of print media are undeniable, the success and opinions of print media are strong. The top magazine in the country, AARP, has a circulation of over 20 million currently. Other magazine companies are beginning new print editions for their companies.
People who like to physically read print media also stick by it closely. Anna Kec of Business2Community.com writes that print media “…is still very ingrained in consumers’ collective memory.” She even mentions how consumers tend to enjoy physically touching, looking at, and smelling print media - and that it adds a level of comfort.
The fate of print media is still up in the air, and likely only time will tell how long it remains. Until then, stockpile your National Geographic and TIME Magazine copies while you can.
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