Survey: Newspaper of the Future is Going to be Free

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The around the corner newspaper vendor is going to be out of a job and so are the kids who make their cents by chucking newspapers at your door. That is, if the results of a latest survey comes true. Zogby International conducted a survey for the World Editors Forum and Reuters and its report indicates that the media landscape is changing and it is going to change further to the detriment of newspapers.

With the rapid growth of online media especially the internet, newspaper is losing ground and eyeballs. Newspaper editors feel that though they would remain relevant, they will have to adapt and change to the demands of the future. In this context, newspapers might place greater emphasis on comments and opinions rather than reportage. And as we know 'opinions' are free and so will be the newspaper of the future.

Said John Zogby,

"For these editors the future is self-evident and our survey shows that they see the writing on the newsroom wall. The evolution of the 4th Estate is no longer questions of if, when or how. Editors now know the solution: Innovate. Integrate. Or perish."

The survey revealed -

- 86 percent believed that press rooms should directly link to newer digital services.

- 56 percent of respondents believed that the majority of news, be it print or online, would be free in the future.

- 45 percent of editors thought the quality of journalism would improve over the next 10 years.

- More than 25 percent thought the quality of journalism would go down.

- 30 percent of respondents wanted to be able to recruit more journalists for tackling the future challenges.

- 35 percent would like to re-train the journalists they have in new media for the new challenges.

- Nearly 75 percent believed that some traditional editorial functions will be outsourced in the future.

Remember, this survey was conducted amongst the peer group of editors numbering nearly 704 senior executives, people ostensibly with their noses and ears to the ground. The conclusion drawn from the survey shows that a significant majority believes that content in the future would be consumed mainly through mediums like the internet, cell phones and television.

The survey results are not surprising, as one of direct indicators of mass consumption; the advertisement revenue seems to be flowing more freely towards online mediums. Also, readership of newsprint is on the wane especially amongst the young population.The young population always on the go would prefer customized content to be delivered to their mobile devices rather than spending on a newspaper.

The adaptation process is underway as most of the major newspapers have an online presence and are also integrating themselves into other sources of content too.

It is these sweeping changes in technology and spread that is also allowing us citizen journos to add our two bits worth to the more informed voices out there.