Are newspapers a dying breed? It would seem so. As we've discussed in class and as chapter 4 in your textbook points out, traditional newspapers are fighting to survive and scrambling to adjust to new technology and a new generation of readers who are more likely to get their news from an iPod or cell phone.On the other hand, journalism itself isn't dying. Only its mode of delivery is changing and adapting. Click here to read a recent Time magazine article about the closing of The Ann Arbor News. It's not just the story of another newspaper closing its doors. What makes The Ann Arbor News story unique is that, unlike many other newspapers, The A2 News was not forced to stop its presses. Instead, it deliberately shut down so that it could launch a new online model. What do you think of its decision?
Personally, I believe that the decision to end the Ann Arbor news was wrong. As a current Ann Arbor resident, I do have some biased. I believe that if all companies have this same attitude, then that will be the death of the newspaper. Granted, they do want to take advantage of all the technologies that the world can offer. But, even so, there are still avid newspaper readers, who would prefer to have the news in their hands. Plus, technology can fail us at times. If our society becomes too reliant on everything being on the internet, if something bad were too happen, the world would simply be left uninformed.
ReplyDeleteI think that they shouldn't have changed the newspaper to a website. They willingly laid off over 200 people in these already hard economic times.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I think it was a good idea to go to an online paper. They are still publishing a normal paper on two days including Sunday. They were a really great paper and it's sad to see it not putting out a paper every day but a majority of it's readers can still read it online and I'm sure a lot of them would prefer it. So I completely back their decision and I think it was a great idea for them.
ReplyDeleteI have a subsrciption to the online Free Press, and it's okay, but I much prefer an actual paper copy-- which we get on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. I'll admit that it is easier to find articles on the online edition. But I still like the feel of a actual paper.
ReplyDeleteI think that the decision to shut down the Ann Arbor News was a gamble. It is good to see that the company is utilizing the technology we have today, but I don't think that it's right for them to completely cancel the paper. As mentioned in the article, many people aren't accustomed to getting the news online. Some of the readers also may not have the time or patience to sit in front of a computer and wait for pages to load and pictures to appear; they would rather have the news in front of them and ready to go. I think that a better solution would be to have an altered paper schedule, such as that of the Detroit Free Press, instead of taking the paper away all at once.
ReplyDeletecherima c.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read this article, I didn't agree with Ann Arbor "killing off" it's newspaper, but after some consideration, I decided that maybe it was a good thing for Ann Arbor.
Having the paper online saves money, and time, and it's not as if the paper version of the Ann Arbor news won't be available-- people can still read it on Thursdays and Sundays.
I still find it a bit sad that Ann Arbor no longer offers the paper version of their newspaper everyday, but I do see why, and accept the fact that it was nessicary for them to make this change.
Laura Nowak
ReplyDeleteIt can be easier to find articles online, but the paper is what a lot of people are used to. Although there still would have been some jobs for writing the articles and designing the website, there are some people who would get fired because their job was no longer necessary.
Some papers have been around for one hundred years or more, and at least the Ann Arbor News is still running and is now "greener" for the environment.
There are pros and cons in major changes like this, but I believe this was a change for the better.
In my opinion, Ann Arbor stopping the press on its newspaper and putting it online has both good and bad points.
ReplyDeleteOn the positive side, having the newspaper online saves money and paper and also makes use of all the technological devices we have today.
On the other hand, many people read their newspaper as their traveling, and they may not always have access to the Internet.
Instead of stopping the printing of the newspaper altogether, it could have been possible for Ann Arbor to adopt a schedule like the one of the Detroit Free Press, with a subscription to daily news online and a delivered newspaper to homes on the weekends.
The Ann Arbor News' decision to stop the presses was indeed a brave one, and I believe it may be the pioneer for the changes that could come to print journalism. The younger generations are turning to different sources (especially the internet) to receive news, so it would be logical to reach the public where they're looking. Technology is becoming further incorporated into people's lives at a rapid pace, and we cannot deny the possibility of an internet-based journalism industry. With the internet's versatility that print, television and radio lack (as in the extensive resources available, the ability to combine audio, video, and text), and also with it's increasing portability and convenience, a possibility of an internet shift in newspaper journalism is becoming progressively closer in reach. The only possible issue with this shift is the consequence of a decreased revenue for newspapers, which relies heavily on overcharging for advertisements (and which they cannot do with the internet.) This drop in profits would result in a smaller and less prominent newspaper, essentially diminishing it's level of authority. If we can somehow find a balance between profit and technological accessibility, then this could be a major revolution for the newspaper industry.
ReplyDeleteJessica Montgomery
ReplyDeleteI think that Ann Arbor News made a good decision by switching to an online version, but there are some disadvantages with this decision.
Many people prefer reading paper copies, myself included, most of the time. Also, people like to bring their paper along with them so they can read it wherever they want, but they do not have internet access everywhere so they cannot always access an online version of the paper.
A lot of people that read the newspaper only read the paper copies. I know that nobody in my family depends on the internet to get their news. Many people I know depend on the paper to get their news but if they do not get a paper that day, they get their news from TV. The Ann Arbor News probably lost a lot of their buissness from people who are like that.
On the other hand, by switching to an online paper, the Ann Arbor news has become more environmentally friendly. They are saving lots of paper and ink by having their paper online. For those who have Internet access wherever they go, the online paper would be a lot easier to access than getting the actual paper. An online paper also cuts down on many costs, like printing.
I think that the Ann Arbor news made a good decision to switch their paper to an online version. It is more accessable to some people, but less to others. Although many people don't read the online paper, it is a good resource to those that do. The Ann Arbor news now has less costs since they are online.
The Ann Arbor News made a giant decision when chosing to turn from the touchable, solid newspaper to the virtual, intangible web version. Though some critics and journalists report this as Ann Arbor "killing" its own newspaper, I see the matter from a completely different angle. Yes, the physical newspaper is no longer, but the work that goes into creating it and the stories and information coming out of it remain. What this paper did, in reality, was get a jumpstart on an up-and-coming revolution. And yes, they may have been able to wait longer to put this change into effect, and in the meantime give a little more time to those losing their jobs, but if these changes were to be made eventually, there's no use in waiting until they were absolutely necessary. In addition, there are many benefits of using an online edition, including searchable topics and interactive polls. Overall, it seems to me that the city of Ann Arbor is not killing their paper, but, in actuality, they are rebirthing it into a new era.
ReplyDeleteI think that it was a good idea to switch from paper to the internet. Since it reduced the costs for paper and reports drastically, there is more of a profit that can be used to better the newspaper even more. But it's going to take the readers a while to get used to the idea of not having an actual paper waiting on their doorstep or driveway to read.
ReplyDeleteI'm more of a traditionalist so I prefer the feel of ink on my hands rather than doing the work of going online and searching through a website to find news.
But in the article, it said that it still publishes on Thursdays and Sundays, so that means that it's not completely extinct. I think that is a reasonable compromise to help suite everyone.
I think that the Ann Arbor News may have made a mistake in their gamble. If it had been me, I would have sent out a postcard with a Sunday paper, asking readers to check 'yes' or 'no' as to whether they would be interested in a web version. While on the one hand, it is a brave step into the future, I for one don't know that people would all react well. In fact, I know they haven't. Witness the reactions of the Morays.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing to consider is that it is perhaps likely that readership will decline as a result. The Morays, again, are an example. Also, people having to surf the web to get their news isn't going to have the same turnout as will a paper which gets delivered, regardless of whether or not it's read. Because the paper is a business, and in one respect, it doesn't matter so much that people read it as that it gets sold. Do you have to pay to join the new web-paper? If not, A2 dot com may be heading into a financial mess.
So, I suppose I really don't know what to think. It could turn out well with the tech-savvy younger generation, but will it be at the cost of their carefully groomed older readers? Only time will tell for sure.
The decision to stop the printing of the Ann Arbor press can be debated. I, however, agree with the decision made. Both online and print journalism have advantages and disadvantages. Print journalism has been a very successful source of information. It has offered the public many decades of good reading. The newspaper has always offered detailed reading on important stories. Newer forms of journalism, such as online journalism, are now available.
ReplyDeleteWith these new forms of news, access to news has become much more convenient. I feel these new means of delivering news such as the computer and other portable devices appeal to a younger crowd. If a newspapers goal is expand their demographics they need to change the way their news is accessed. In addition to changing how the news is received, the content of the news needs to become more appealing to younger crowds.
I feel the Ann Arbor News was just the beginning of change in the news industry. I feel that this newspaper will cause a chain reaction in newspapers all over. So, while the decision to stop printing the Ann Arbor News everyday can be debated, I agree with their decision. This new way to access its readers will attract a younger crowd while still obtaining its older readers' interests. I also feel that going paperless is a safe way to deliver the news. All in this entire switch was a good idea and I support this decision.
I believe that it was both a win-lose situation because maybe this way the newspaper will attract more readers, but at the same time, they laid off so many people during this horrible economy especially in Michigan. I think that going online has perks because it's so easy to receive, but then, there is nothing like having the physical paper in front of you.
ReplyDeleteTo me putting the Ann Arbor paper online could be a good thing or a bad thing. It's saves money on printing and ink. This could interest some viewers that usually don't view the newspaper. But then again how many people my age are going to go online and read the newspaper. A lot of the newspaper readers that I know of are older people. My grandma loves the newspaper, and she doesn't have a computer so how would she get her newspaper? Also, personally I do not like reading off the computer for long periods of time. I would rather have the hard copy in front of me.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I think it is wrong to shut down the newspaper. People want to be knowing what's going on in their town and want to be able to say 'did you see I was in the newspaper!' And honestly who wants to read their computer at breakfast to get the news, it's just not the same as a real newspaper.
ReplyDeleteThe Ann Arbor News shutting itself down to completely convert to the internet is like playing with fire. It's good for a little bit, but then you get hurt. The paper's been around for so long and for it to shut itself down is disappointing. Although, in these economic times, it is less costly without having to pay for paper, printing, ink, and circulation. However, if most papers become online, I have a feeling that everyone would greatly miss having something to hide yourself behind while spying on someone! Instead, you would have to constantly look up from a computer screen, blowing your cover. :) Seriously, I don't think it's a good or bad decision by changing the Ann Arbor News from paper to the internet. There are reasons that support both sides; it's basically down to preference.
ReplyDeleteI think that shutting down the print paper and turning to a Web-only system was a huge gamble, and I'm sure they will get mixed reviews from critics about it. In a way it is good because it appeals to a younger generation, one that is on the internet a good portion of their week. The Internet offers advances that paper sometimes can fail to do. Putting the paper on the Web is faster and easier for the companies. Yet, this new deal has a bad side to it also. By shutting down the print it has laid off over 200 people, ones who desperately need to support families. The economy is bad enough, and things like this are just adding to the flame. Also, I feel like news that is delivered on paper everyday to homes is better for businessmen and enterpenuers. Although news on the Internet can travel farther faster, print paper is what we've been doing for centuries now. I am very curious to see how this plays out, and what will happen to other papers around the area. If this works out for the better, I am POSITIVE that other papers will follow this trend.
ReplyDeletenote: that comment was from Megan Bolton.
ReplyDeleteKathryn Costello
ReplyDeleteI think that it was wrong for the Ann Arbor News to delibertly shut down. They could just deliver the paper three days a week like the Detroit newspapers to cut back on costs. By transferring the Ann Arbor News to online, they are only supporting the downfall of newspapers, while other newspapers are working delibertly to save newspapers to keep them current. If other newspapers follow this trend, they are also supporting this idea, which also is connected to the idea that teens eventually will only be reading newspapers online because the newspaper could die out if other papers follow this path. Also by doing this, they are only harming by the economy by causing hundreds of people to be laid off, which questions why they wonder that the economy is suffering so badly.
Christine LaRouere
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, i think it was a wrong idea to totally switch to technology in the Ann Arbor newspaper. If something went wrong with the technology such as the computers crashing or some other reason, people will be very angry without their daily news. I think if you stay with the regular news paper, it will always be efficienct and ready for the people when they want to read it.
Caroline H.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the Ann Arbor News should not have taken such a big risk this soon. As it said, to most people, there is a certain amount of comfort and familiarity that comes with reading a newspaper, as well as the Ann Arbor News' 175 year history. To completely be rid of the physical paper when it wasn't necessary may have been a mistake. There are those who don't access to Internet frequestly and the entire idea of tradition that don't seem to have been considered. The decision, however, has been made, and the only thing left to do is hope that the paper continues to be read, even though the citizens of Ann Arbor will now only have the option of visiting a website to do so.
For one thing, The Ann Arbor News definitley cut its losses and now faces a new oppurutniy. I say "oppurtunity" because i don't think their choice can be classified as a win or lose situation.They also created this "oppurtunity" themselves.
ReplyDeleteYes, a physical paper that you hold in your hand every morning before you let the dog out is gone. But in return the online paper opened itself up to a mass media. Now when your sitting at your desk at work durring a slow time, whose to stop you from reading all the news on the web. The paper may even reach more readers now that is is online. Of course money will be saved, but some would agrue that it is a "small price to pay" to hold the traditional paper in your hand and scan the local events. All in all only time will tell if this way of broadcasting news will be succesful or unsuccesful.
I think it was illogical for The Ann Arbor News to end their 174 year newspaper so abruptly. Loyal readers might choose to not read the online version because they are so devoted to the feel of a newspaper in their hands. Some people grew up on The Ann Arbor News and reading it became habitual in their adulthood. To have something snatched from you without prior knowledge is not easy to swallow and it might be awhile because devoted readers decide to read the online version of the newspaper. I also do not understand why The Ann Arbor News could not of had an online newspaper and a printed newspaper. Many newspapers have websites. It is strange to me that The Ann Arbor News did not just keep their newspaper and start a website. Why did they have to stop something that had been going strong for 174 years. When I want dessert I do not throw away my dinner. I eat my dinner first and then consume my dessert. The Ann Arbor News threw away their dinner and devoured their dessert. Some people do not even have computers to read the online version but everybody, including the blind, has eyes and even though the eyes of the blind do not function, the eyes of those who are blessed with sight do and they use their eyes to read The Ann Arbor News. On the other hand, some people would prefer to read the newspaper online because it saves paper and does not leave ink stains all over your hands. I believe The Ann Arbor News should have told their readers that they were going to end the newspaper instead of pulling the plug without warning. The Ann Arbor News is hoping their dessert will be a success because everybody does not like sweets. :)
ReplyDeleteI think the Ann Arbor newspaper it was careless of the newspaper to switch to an online paper, although an online version of the newspaper does have its advantages. While it is good that the newspaper is making more use of technology, I think the newspaper made some poor choices by abruplty closing down the newspaper after 174 years. For example, the newspaper could have cut down on expenses. Because of the company's poor judgement, many jobs were lost in the process like the paperboys' services were no longer needed. An online edition of the newspaper may appeal to more younger people; however, many other people had to pay the price by losing their jobs.
ReplyDelete