Die another Day: Print News is still alive.

Source: Google images

The internet, one of man’s greatest invention and also the most uncontrollable medium of information. The internet gave way to so many possibility of how to information would be presented. We no longer need to walk to the nearest bookstore to obtain newspaper but all we need is a click on the mouse and ‘voila!’ our daily news on out computer screen.

Talks of how print materials are getting unpopular have been going on since information has been presented online. There are a lot of rumors going on that print is already losing a lot of money and will die pretty soon. These speculations however are being challenge by an article written by Michael Josefowicz (2009) “The Fallacy of the 'Print Is Dead' Meme” as he explained that how these prophesy of print materials are dying aren’t entirely true. He argued that the "End of Print" is a meme that has gained ascendancy in an environment of disruptive change in the communication ecology. It's similar to the dot-com boom meme that bricks-and-mortar stores were doomed and would soon disappear. (Josefowicz 2009)

Jeff Gomez (2008) “Print is Dead: books in our digital age” states that print is not yet dead but however sick as newspaper, books, dictionary and etc readership has decline over the years and more people are beginning to turn away from traditional method of reading to reading online. (Gomez 2008)

Source: Google Images

I however agree on Josefowicz argument that the print is dead rumor is totally absurd but I have no doubt that it has been impacted by internet. Printed material however has a value which an electronic device, however elaborate it may be, cannot match (Thompson 2005). Books have a certain physical feel which readers love about. Well if isn’t used for reading at least it’s on the shelf making your study room look great.

To me, I admit I’m transferring to the digital world for information but I won’t say books will depart from me. Novels are still enjoyed best on print that digital. You won’t see Harry Potter, Twilight, Lord of the Ring and etc on any digital form anytime soon as long as readers habit of reading doesn’t change.

Print is not dead but they are definitely suffering losses which make print sick. Books will continue to stay, at least on our shelf but never disappeared just like how ancient Roman books are right now.

Reference list

Gomez, J. (2008) Print is dead: books in our digital age, New York: Macmilan

Josefowicz, M. (2009) The Fallacy of Print is Dead Meme [internet]
Available at: http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2009/04/the-fallacy-of-the-print-is-dead-meme117.html
[Accessed 12 June 2010]

Thompson, J. (2005) Books in the digital age, Cambridge :Polity Press