To compete with the Internet, a majority of editors say newspapers will likely become free
By Hilary Powell
This afternoon, I received an email digest of stories from my home state of Indiana (especially important today, given the presidential primaries taking place there) that I read from my iPod Touch media player. Because my device connects to free Wi-Fi networks wherever possible, I essentially get the latest online news at no cost.
Soon - according to a survey conducted by Zogby International for the World Editors Forum and Reuters - newspapers will make sure that I can get their print content at no cost as well.
A Reuters story published today reported that 56 percent of respondents believed the majority of the news - “be it via print or online” - would be free in the future. One year ago, 48 percent of respondents supported this position. The reason for the increase: a widespread belief that, within a decade, the most common form of news consumption will be via electronic media (such as PCs and mobile devices).
Newspapers seeking to compete with the Internet are likely to become free and place greater emphasis on comment and opinion in the future. […] Some 86 percent of respondents believed newsrooms should become more integrated with digital services as two in three believe the most common form of news consumption will be via electronic media such as online or mobiles within a decade.
The Web revolutionized the way we exchange information and enhanced the user’s ability to control how information is shared. To survive in this new media reality, editors will also have to revolutionize and come up with approaches to journalism that capitalize on emerging technologies. Said pollster John Zogby of the editor’s necessary solution: “Innovate. Integrate. Or perish.”
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