Printing becoming obsolete as technology advances
Isaac Schwab
Issue date: 1/29/10 Section: Features
In our futuristic generation, there are more computer screens, televisions and Wi-Fi than we could have imagined ten years ago. But this mass of instant communication seems to be lacking print.
Newspapers, books and handwritten letters have been the standard for many years. But as technology advances, what will happen to these forms of communication?
According to The New Yorker's article, "Out of Print," American newspapers have been around for roughly 300 years. But the long history of American newspapers has not saved the medium from taking some serious hits in the last twenty years.
"People would sit and read it like I read my Sunday New York Times for two hours at least on Sunday. That is becoming rare, people don't do that anymore, they don't get their news from reading they get it from Media," Dr. Katharina Tumpek, Professor of History, said.
The newspaper industry has lost at least a quarter of its jobs since 1990. And with only 19 percent of Americans ages 18-34 claiming to even look at newspapers, and the average age of newspaper readers at 55 and rising, it's not surprising that Phillip Meyer, author of "The Vanishing Newspaper," predicts that the last newspaper will release its final issue in 2043.
"If you define newspapers as print with information, then yes it's a dying commodity," Patricia Rinke, Professor of Business Administration, said. "But if you define newspapers as a source of information, then the internet has a lot of opportunities with it. And yes, there is a trend in some areas for people to try and get news online. And the challenge then is for the print version to try and maintain that innovative edge."
Print has also become increasingly rare in business offices as well. Offices rely less on newsletters and more on interoffice e-mails to relay their news. Where desks once had baskets labeled "In" and "Out," now they have e-mail boxes titled "Inbox" and "Sent."
Print advertising is also on the decline, be it full-page advertisements in the newspaper, or catalogs and letters in your mailbox, advertising has become much more prevalent on the instant mediums.
Newspapers, books and handwritten letters have been the standard for many years. But as technology advances, what will happen to these forms of communication?
According to The New Yorker's article, "Out of Print," American newspapers have been around for roughly 300 years. But the long history of American newspapers has not saved the medium from taking some serious hits in the last twenty years.
"People would sit and read it like I read my Sunday New York Times for two hours at least on Sunday. That is becoming rare, people don't do that anymore, they don't get their news from reading they get it from Media," Dr. Katharina Tumpek, Professor of History, said.
The newspaper industry has lost at least a quarter of its jobs since 1990. And with only 19 percent of Americans ages 18-34 claiming to even look at newspapers, and the average age of newspaper readers at 55 and rising, it's not surprising that Phillip Meyer, author of "The Vanishing Newspaper," predicts that the last newspaper will release its final issue in 2043.
"If you define newspapers as print with information, then yes it's a dying commodity," Patricia Rinke, Professor of Business Administration, said. "But if you define newspapers as a source of information, then the internet has a lot of opportunities with it. And yes, there is a trend in some areas for people to try and get news online. And the challenge then is for the print version to try and maintain that innovative edge."
Print has also become increasingly rare in business offices as well. Offices rely less on newsletters and more on interoffice e-mails to relay their news. Where desks once had baskets labeled "In" and "Out," now they have e-mail boxes titled "Inbox" and "Sent."
Print advertising is also on the decline, be it full-page advertisements in the newspaper, or catalogs and letters in your mailbox, advertising has become much more prevalent on the instant mediums.
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