Do you think reading newspapers will become a thing of the past in the Internet era?

I'm all for going paperless but the New York Times crosswords absolutely HAVE to be on paper...

I think it's more a question of technology than the internet. People will never completely switch from carrying a tangible newspaper to a much bulkier and thousands of times more expensive laptop, just to read the paper. It's a pleasurable habit, to sit and read at the table or before work.

Now, you put the internet 'papers' on a paper thin, bendable, plastic roll-up screen and you'll see the elimination of the traditional medium without a doubt.

I haven't read a paper newspaper since they started putting news on the Internet. (I also haven't listened to the radio since podcasts.) I agree with smithinjapan, too. If my laptop were like a plastic sheet, I'd have it with me at Starbucks much more readily.

I don't think so. Newspapers will respond by cutting costs or publishing a more selective entries online. There will always be people who want to buy something they can hold in their hands and read.

I think news papers will remain but in small numbers. Any commuter or coffee sipper will tell you nothing beats the paper.

What's a "newspaper"? Come to think of it, what's "paper"?

the New York Times crosswords absolutely HAVE to be on paper

USNin, I hear you, bro.

Even in the electronic age that was supposed to eliminate paper, what do we have more of in the office? Paper! Copiers, fax machines, printers etc.

I agree until "internet" news comes in flat plastic or some futuristic thin material I can fold out and read on a train or traveling then newspapers are still good. Sorry but reading the news on a small iphone or cellphone screen is a pain, and whipping out a notebook while standing on a train isn't ideal either.

As with many base publications, our base newspaper went paper-less some time ago and became an on-line 'newspaper'. I personnally don't like it very much because I dislike not knowing how much (if any) of the content is new or has been updated when I check out the site. With a newspaper or magazine I know that when I open up the new issue all of the content I see is the latest and greatest and new to me. With an electronic publication there's no knowing how often you need to check it for new stories and more often than not you find that you've done so for no reason. I especially dislike how e-news stories on some sites (ahem Japan Today) are updated so that it's hard to tell whether you're reading a new article or an old one you've already read that's merely been altered by a few new lines.

Yes until passive light flexible flat light medium is available a real paper is preferable. Also even once that magic future material is invented there's still the object of cost. I subscribe to the newspaper for cents a day, but this sheet might be a heavy investment if it gets lost or stolen. If I loose the Sunday coupons I don't give a crap.

USNin has a good point about the "updating" policies of online papers. I personally don't like online papers as much because its hard to trust or verify if their sources are correct. Anyone can throw up a website, and articles could be written with horrible bias, but CNN, BBC, and New York Times online content is backed up by the reputation of their TV channel or news paper. This is especially true with anything that relates to politics, and almost not true at all with subjects related to technology or video games etc.

Its give and take.

I`d much rather be sitting with my coffee on the balcony on a sunny day relaxed with a newspaper than hunched over squinting at a computer screen like a numbnut!

Hughqarse

You mean just like while you were typing that? : )

I don't read the paper out on the balcony but I sure don't plan on taking the computer with me into the john anytime soon like I do the paper. Of course I can't speak for others but...

Newspapers are doomed, unless they finally make an effort to inform us, rather lie to us.

All newspapers have political bias informations in them. Wrong bias informations is what wrong in newspapers. At least on the internet who can really get out of gem from all the informations and knowledge,if you know how and are wise to scrutunise the info.

This is why, newspapers that are obsolute,full of false informations and bias will be doomed.

So far I see not one paper medium newspaper, challenging the cyber medium ability to interact and change with people globally in informations/knowledge within seconds.

You mean just like while you were typing that? : ) USNinJapan2

haha. I wish mate, but that was yesterday before the heavans opened

Er, no. Look at the pathetic, sorry excuse for news coverage on this site. And before anyone asks why I come here, it's for the comments, not the news.

Online news is terrible, and until it shapes up there will always be a place for newspapers.

I'm more concerned that thinking will become a thing of the past.

Why read the same bias and lies that you saw on TV the night before?

I'm not an active environmentalist but I can't help wondering how many trees it takes just to put out the Sunday Newspapers in the U.S.

not everybody likes computers, you know. However, even newspaper companies need computers. very fast ones.

Japan is famous for high newspaper readership compared to other countries and indeed americans were surprised of the high literacy rate after ww2. So japan isn't famous for being technology backward ( although they dont go online in the same as western countries) ...so on that weak analysis I would guess it would take a while to get rid of newspapers.

The internet may have a better edge when getting news from other peoples and countries opinions, as you wont get that new domestic news in any country even when they say they are reporting world news. ( slight link to how i started my post). Also you don't get that outside looking in perspective so much.

not in the near future, but i would think 10-15 years down the road newspapers may be near extinction. much quicker & up to date news on the net. not to mention the growing worry internationally about the environment. see what happens.

at least not as we know it today. Those who want a printed copy will hit a button on the vending machine which will spit out the latest edition of the news. For the most part technology will catch up and ultra thin and practically use once and throw away type bio-OLED screens will provide the daily news. It will be cheaper to print a single OLED film paper that incorporates enough memory to store a few hundred pages of news. Maybe like 2week contact lens it will be something you update and use until it gets battered.

Just drop by FPD2008 to see the future http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/fpd/2008/english/topics.html