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Is Internet the newspaper killer?

Last updated on: February 22, 2011 17:53 IST
A salesman displays an Apple iPad during its launch in Brussels July 23, 2010

The tablet scenario has already turned into a bandwagon with Dell coming up with Dell Streak, Samsung with Samsung Galaxy Tab; Olive, an Indian company, has also launched its Olive Tab.

Tablets from HP, BlackBerry, Toshiba, Microsoft and others are also crowding the market or expected anytime soon.

There is no dearth of web sites from where people can get their quota of news. Even conventional newspapers like New York Times and Times of India offer much of their news for free on their web sites.

By the time the traditional newspapers can get their newspapers out into the market, the news that is printed on them is already obsolete.

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Is Internet the newspaper killer?

Last updated on: February 22, 2011 17:53 IST
Dell Streak

The tablet scenario has already turned into a bandwagon with Dell coming up with Dell Streak, Samsung with Samsung Galaxy Tab; Olive, an Indian company, has also launched its Olive Tab. Tablets from HP, BlackBerry, Toshiba, Microsoft and others are also crowding the market or expected anytime soon.

There is no dearth of web sites from where people can get their quota of news. Even conventional newspapers like New York Times and Times of India offer much of their news for free on their web sites.

By the time the traditional newspapers can get their newspapers out into the market, the news that is printed on them is already obsolete.

Check out: The all new Gadgets and Gaming page

Reader invite

Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.

Is Internet the newspaper killer?

Last updated on: February 22, 2011 17:53 IST
A prototype Internet tablet plays an Avatar movie trailer being streamed in 1080p high definition over a 4G LTE wireless network at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas

The rise of digital

Many media analysts are of the opinion that the Internet might prove to be the final nail in the newspaper's coffin. When people can access content online for free, then why should they pay for a newspaper subscription!

In California, a study done in 2008 has found that 22 percent of users have stopped their subscription to printed newspapers, because they could access the same content online.

Figures released in April by the Audit Bureau of Circulations show that circulation continues to drop severely (8.7%) at US newspapers within a span of a year.

Sunday circulation fell 6.5 percent.

Check out: The all new Gadgets and Gaming page

Reader invite

Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.

Is Internet the newspaper killer?

Last updated on: February 22, 2011 17:53 IST
Samsung Galaxy Tab

Who is to "blame"? The Internet!

The rise of new devices like the iPad, iPhone, Kindle, etc! The digital revolution that is sweeping the world!

In USA, Europe and urban regions in countries like India where broadband is easily accessible, the younger generation does not seem too bothered about the fact that they might soon be living in a world without printed newspapers. When they want to read about breaking news stories, they use their tablets, notebooks or mobiles to access their favourite web sites.

­­Fears have also been voiced that if the bigger newspapers go out of business, it will damage the press' ability to serve as a bulwark of democracy. However, Internet purists say that the web will throw up a new class of citizen journalists, who will easily fill the void.

Check out: The all new Gadgets and Gaming page

Reader invite

Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.

Is Internet the newspaper killer?

Last updated on: February 22, 2011 17:53 IST
A vendor arranges Indian newspapers that carry reports and pictures of the Mumbai blasts in the northern Indian city of Allahabad July 12, 2006

Society needs newspapers

The organisations behind large media companies are uniquely capable of bringing value to our democratic society; they provide us with in-depth coverage of latest events that blogs and other web sites with limited resources can't pursue.

Newspapers with large resources at their disposal can easily take up on powerful political interests, whereas the blogs can't. So it is in the interests of the society that the newspapers should survive in one form or other.

Media companies should give more attention to the quality of their web sites. These organisations will not be able to take advantage of the lucrative online revenue market until they make the web sites their top priority.

Newspapers are primarily the vendors of information and they have to be ready to sell their product in any medium that is popular with consumers, and the truth is that a growing number of readers prefer to access content through their tablets, laptops or mobile phones.

It is quite possible that one day we are going to wake up to a world, where our favourite newspaper is no longer being printed. But that will not be a world without news.

It will be a world where all the content lies online. All of us need to prepare ourselves for the time when newspapers will only survive online.

Check out: The all new Gadgets and Gaming page

Reader invite

Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.