In response to Carolyn’s statement in The Newspaper Crisis: “I think they should start promoting the newspaper more to maybe younger readers because soon all the baby boomers are going to be gone.”

Why would we go back to something outdated when we have made so much progress with technology?  You wouldn’t want to start using an 8-track player instead of your ipod or corded telephones attached to the wall when you have a wireless cell phone would you? The Internet simplifies our lives and gives us the news as it happens instead of waiting until the next paper is published.

Younger readers are not interested in the newspaper like baby boomers because they grew up with technology like the Internet and can’t imagine life without it.  Baby boomers grew up relying on newspapers and after the Internet came along they were already in the habit of reading a daily newspaper.

Although decreased interest in newspapers raises concern of journalists losing their jobs, studies show online news sources that employ journalists, such as websites of newspapers and television news stations, are still people’s main sources for news.  These are also thought of as the most credible sources.

I guess this raises the next question: if newspaper companies become out of print and only online, how will they make money since their source of income is through advertising and classifieds?  Classifieds have become less popular with the advent of free listings with Craigslist and how effective is Internet advertising?

There are now video advertisements that show up before you watch a news clip or other videos online.  You cannot fast forward through them so you are forced to watch if you want to see the news clip.  With technology coming as far as it has we are truly an innovative society and we will always find a way.