Are newspapers still relevant?

20 years ago, journalism was synonymous with TV news and newspapers; today, the landscape has changed, as readers have begun to shift their needs and wants. With AI now in the reporting mix, are newspapers still relevant? Let’s take a closer look.

Newspapers still matter

The good news is that newspapers are still relevant, even in today’s digital age. This means that if you are thinking of studying a journalism degree at a school such as https://schoolofjournalism.co.uk/, it is still incredibly relevant to your future.

Newspapers in print have declined in circulation, but they are still the preferred source of information and news for many and offer unique benefits; for example, many people simply love the experience of holding a physical paper and the ritual of reading. They also find it more focused than online news stories and like to come back to their print medium of choice without needing to log on. Some newspaper readers also say that they find newspapers more credible and trustworthy than online news sources.

The supporting advantages of newspapers

Newspapers also support the community connection and local angle, which is growing fast in today’s media mix. People want to know what is happening in their local area, including events and topics that the national press cannot provide. This kind of community journalism is growing, with some people completing journalism degrees doing so with an eye on the growing field of community journalism and audience engagement.

You should also bear in mind that newspapers are still a vital means of ad revenue for many advertisers; what’s more, niche sections, such as supplements for arts, business, and sport, are still highly in demand by people interested in these topics.

Although mainstream newspapers may be declining in print revenue, they are still popular; in fact, some niche publications are seeing their print numbers grow.

With digital versions of most publications now available, the age of the newspaper is certainly not over and shows no sign of being eroded completely, even in this fast-paced world of communication and AI-driven content.