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Smart phones, compact computers and other technological advancements have changed the way journalists cover and distribute news. However, despite the instant access and immediate satisfaction offered to consumers by new media, some may not be ready to grasp digital media.
David Shabazz is one of, perhaps, many who think print newspapers are not obsolete.
BCCA
HBCU student newspapers
An assistant professor of mass communications and journalism at Kentucky State University, Shabazz said that print newspapers would not be phased out and that they simply has to co-exist with digital media.
“I don’t think that print is going extinct. Many people want to say that it’s the dinosaur, but I think they forget that books were the first mass media,” Shabazz said. “When the newspapers came along, they didn’t replace books. When magazines came along, they didn’t replace newspapers.”
Shabazz conducted a session on new journalism, media ethics and the future of print publications at the 13th annual National HBCU Student News Media Conference. He says that the rumor of print newspapers being phased out is a marketing ploy.
“I think that’s more of a sales tactic from computer and technology people because they want you to buy ads with them,” Shabazz said.
Admitting that he has not actually read a newspaper online, Shabazz, 41, said that he simply chooses to have a newspaper in his hand. But he also admits that his age may be a deciding factor for his preference.
Nkosi Kennedy, 22, sports editor for The Collegian, the student newspaper at South Carolina State University, said he doesn’t mind reading print newspapers, but thinks that online publishing offers more.
“It’s not about preferring one or the other. It’s about recognizing the impact of both because with print, that’s there and it’s indelible,” Kennedy, the computer science major, said. “You have to make sure that what goes in the print version is perfect. But with online, when mistakes happen it can be changed.”
Bruce dePyssler, assistant professor in English and mass communication at North Carolina Central University, believes that print newspapers won’t become obsolete. DePyssler, who also advises the student newspaper, Campus Echo, facilitated a session at the HBCU Conference which focused on College Publisher, a website management system used by many college newspapers.
Even though dePyssler gave the tutorial, which will assist students in getting their newspaper online, his preference is print newspapers.
“I got it in my blood to get the print paper out,” dePyssler said with a chuckle. “We probably get more readers from our online edition. We get about 200 to 500 views a day, but still print isn’t going to go away. Everybody says it is, but it’s not. There’s still going to be a paper hitting the stand.”
In his session, Shabazz provided the audience with a few tips to keep print newspapers relevant.
“The power of writing is really going to be key to the survival of any type of newspaper,” Shabazz said, whether it is printed or online.
Matthew Richardson writes for The Famuan, the Florida A&M University student newspaper. This story was written at the 13th annual National HBCU Student News Media Conference.
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