Newspapers: The decline in print media

 

Read this Ofcom 2022 report on the consumption of news in the UK and answer the following questions (bullet points/short answers are fine):

1) Look at the headlines from the report on page 6. Pick three that you think are interesting and bullet point them here. Why did you pick those three in particular?  

Social media is overtaking traditional channels for news among teens. This shows the dynamic nature of the media industry and how it is changing very rapidly.

Different age groups consume news very differently. This shows much news needs to be adapted in order to fit the correct target audience.

Reach of print/online newspapers has seen a decrease from 2020 (47%) to 2022 (38%). Due to the growth of the internet, print and now moved online.

2) Look at the overall summary for adults on pages 7-8. What are the key points on newspapers? 

The differences between platforms used across age groups are striking.

The BBC remains the news organisation with the highest cross-platform audience reach.

BARB data shows that people turned to TV channels for news at the start of the pandemic and then turned away as it progressed.

While the reach of print newspapers is decreasing, online newspaper reach remains steady.

3) Look at the statistics on page 13. What do you notice about newspapers and how has it changed in recent years?

It has drastically declining over the years.

4) Now look at the age demographics for news consumption on page 16. What age demographic groups are most and least likely to read newspapers and what are the percentages? 

It is mainly the older generation who read newspaper while the younger generation are least likely to do so. 51 percent at older generation and 30 percent at younger generation.

5) Look at the newspaper-specific data on page 36. Which are the most popular newspaper titles? 

Daily Mail, The Sun and The Metro.

6) Now look at the total newspaper reach of print and online on page 39. How has this decreased over the last three years?
Decreased by 11 percent due to decline in print whilst online reach maintained stable.

Part 2: Factsheet - The death of print media

Go to our Media Factsheet archive and open Factsheet 165: The death of print media. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets or you can find it online here - you'll need to log in using your Greenford Google login.

Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks (bullet points/short answers are fine):

1) What has happened to print media in the last 30 years?

Until relatively recently, say in the last 30 years, print media was one of the main sources of information for audiences. The desire for information is not a new one. Since the first newspapers in 1660s, and the relaxing of British censorship laws in 1695, printed newspapers have been a primary source of this information. Audiences can now consume a huge amount of news and information for free – information that previously they would have to pay for. It is also the fault of the publishers who have not kept pace with the new methods of consumption, but instead have relied on the existing models of advertising revenues to fund print media. We will come to consider how institutions are adapting to this new landscape, and also consider the issues of form. But first, we should make sure we understand one of the contributing factors to the (possible) death of print media.

2) Why is the Independent newspaper such a good case study for the decline in print media?

If you are wondering whether print media is dying, a good place to start would be with a newspaper that has recently ‘died’ (in the printed form at least). The Independent was a broadsheet newspaper established in 1986. In an age where Rupert Murdoch has reduced printing costs, and his papers reigned supreme, the Independent offered a fresh and non-aligned perspective. At the time of its launch, the Independent used the advertising slogan “It is. Are you?” which reflected the direct and challenging approach to contemporary splash headlines of the time.

3) What was the Independent newspaper famous for?

The newspaper’s selling line was, until 2011, “free from political bias, free from proprietorial influence”, and the reporting somewhat reflected this; in the last decade of its publication the Independent became known for its unorthodox and campaigning front pages.

4) What did the then-owner of the Independent, Evgeny Lebedev, say about the newspaper's digital-only future?

Lebedev claimed that the ceasing of a printed version was a bold transition to a digital-only future. “The newspaper industry is changing, and that change is being driven by readers. They’re showing us that the future is digital. This decision preserves the Independent brand and allows us to continue to invest in the high quality editorial content that is attracting more and more readers to our online platforms.

5) How do online newspapers make money?

They make money through advertising.

6) What did the Independent's longest-serving editor Simon Kelner warn regarding the switch to digital?

Simon Kelner, the paper’s longest-serving editor said, “For me, the power of the Independent came from the variety of voices, the originality in its design and the iconoclastic feel of the paper. It is very difficult to replicate that in digital form. And it is even more difficult to do that with a paper like the Independent.”

7) What is the concern with fake news? What does 'post-truth' refer to?

The concern over the impact of the Internet news reporting is not new, but 2016’s US presidential election brought the issue into sharp focus. The terms ‘fake news’ and ‘post-truth’ are now familiar in the contemporary vernacular. Is the death of print media the cause for fake news? Possibly. Online news sites are easy to set up, and the simple news format is easy to replicate. Unlike printed media, you do not need the money, publisher, or industry access to ‘sell’ or share your message. Together with this and the prevalence of social media, online news is now faster to produce and then share to a global audience. What is more, you don’t always have a context when reading/sharing online content. For example, a report in a highly satirical print publication such as Private Eye may contain exaggeration for comedic purposes.

8) What is your view on the decline in print media? Should news be free? Is it a concern that established media brands such as the Independent can no longer afford to exist as a printed newspaper?

My view on print media is correct because I see it as a outdated form of news. News should be free because people have a right to know about what is going on in the world without being charged. I don't think it is a concern due to it already being a fallen industry.