Journalism: A Slow Decline

News of the World Newspaper Headline
http://carycitizen.com/2011/07/17/editorial-the-long-sad-decline-of-journalism/

"Americans were the world's preeminent newspaper-reading people, with by far the largest per capita circulation of any country" (McPherson 48)

Print journalism was once at the forefront of society. Even dating back to the Civil War in 1862, the newspaper was the driving force of public opinion, often exaggerating victories and downplaying defeats. All major cities had a paperboy on every corner selling the most up to date headlines, as well as rural areas employing the youth to deliver daily news before breakfast. In James McPherson’s Crossroads of Freedom Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes is quoted as saying, “We must have something to eat and the papers to read. Everything else we can do without . . . . . . Only bread and newspaper we must have.” That is not the case anymore. 

The charm of getting today’s news tomorrow is no longer plausible. Release of information is instantaneous and with today’s fast paced society, no one wants to wait the next day to hear what is going on. With the release of new handheld technology every few months, news stories break in a matter of minutes instead of days. Every major news station has an app that delivers news to your handheld device. The newspapers of the world are now relegated to a forgotten corner of the supermarkets. Radio is used to boost the newest singers ratings instead of informing citizens of what is going on.  Journalism, in its most traditional sense of print media, is dying.

Social Media as citizen journalism

Journalism as we know it is on a steady declining trend. In todays society, not just nationally but globally, people are relying more on alternative means of receiving the latest in current events. All over Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites, individuals can find out about anything happening around the world. 

With the rise in "smartphone" technology, most major news outlets and all social media sites are right at ones fingertips with the increase in app developments and constant updates. You do not even have to actively try to keep yourself informed with the goings on of the world because those very same apps will send a notification to your phone or tablet when something note worthy happens.

Journalism has failed to evolve in a manner that keeps print media a relevant source for news in the modern age. If anyone walks into a store they will find the checkouts saturated with magazines.  They are not, however, filled with current world news. They are filled cover to cover with images of the most current celebrities and their antics. The likes of The National Enquirer and People magazine ensure that current readers occupy their time and money reading of who wore it best instead of recent events. Unlike these entertainment magazines, the newspapers are hidden in little corners of the stores. They are bought mainly for the Sunday coupons than as a source of news. If someone wants to know the latest in current events they can turn on a TV or bring up a search engine to research their topic. Print media has become obsolete because the companies have not found a way for print media to compete with their electronic counterparts. How can something that takes hours to print compete with something that merely takes the time to type and upload.  

Comparison graph showing trust vs. no trust
http://www.gallup.com/poll/1663/Media-Use-Evaluation.aspx

Nielsen TV Research on Cable TV Viewership
http://www.journalism.org/2014/03/26/state-of-the-news-media-2014-key-indicators-in-media-and-news/

Graph showing the decline in news magazine sales.
http://www.journalism.org/2014/03/26/state-of-the-news-media-2014-key-indicators-in-media-and-news/

Continual decrease in newspaper sales 2010 (Canada, USA, Great Britain)

Statistics about Print Media
http://www.mergeagency.com/digital-marketing/death-of-print-media