Will the Print Industry Survive?

It is very true that the Internet has gobbled up the ink-printed sources but I do not think that they have completely devoured them. Today, the Internet has become a dependent source. Instead of getting up in the morning and walking to a local convenience store, we can turn on the computer and get our news online. Most news sources have made it a point to put their editions readily available to Internet users. I am a subscriber to a music magazine that has tried different tactics to grab more print readers. They sell print magazine but also offer bits of their news on their Internet website. Recently, to accommodate Internet users, they are offering subscribers to get their printed magazines online. On the other hand, to keep their print magazines flowing, they created a different version of their magazine, “the mini-mag”. This uses advertising tactics. This version gives its viewers “prizes” like a poster, a free CD, or a bracelet.

Tactics like the last could help keep the print industry alive. Print sources have also made it a point to narrow their focus. News sources and magazine sources have created a target audience for what they decide to put out. Instead of trying to get everyone’s attention, they advertise and write for those viewers who subscribe or buy their printed material. By using the concept of demassification, the print industry could survive. The group that decides to read and buy their content is helping. They are investing their money to keep the print industry flowing.