The newspaper is dying, the news is not

The newspaper industry has been victim to sharp declines in its demand dating as far back as 2009.  A tangible newspaper is no longer a thing.

According to Business Insider, by the halfway point of 2009: 105 newspapers were shut down, 10,000 newspaper jobs were lost, print ad sales fell 30 percent from January to March and 23 of the top 25 newspapers reported circulation declines between 7 and 20 percent.

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Also by 2009, Gannett, one of the country’s major mass media companies, laid off more than 10,000 employees since 2007— all numbers that have only grown in number over the past decade.

The entire nation has witnessed the demise of many local newspapers. Additionally, the last recession (2007-2009) was unusually severe, and the current recovery hasn’t provided the bounce back newspapers were hoping for.

The bottom line is that the physical newspaper is dying and is quickly becoming a relic. However, it is important to know that the world still needs “us.” Our newspapers are declining, but our platform, influence, and responsibility to relay news are as pivotal as they have ever been.

The news is going nowhere. People still need to know who, what, when, where, why and how.

Today’s world of instant access to information and overall ability to reach the masses within seconds has made what we do that much more important. We just have to adapt to the times.

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The only thing that has changed is how people come to receive the news. Instead of engaging through the content of a newspaper, we are viewed through the convenience of various screens. In 2017, 70 percent of all readers visited Tennessean.com exclusively through a mobile device. This statistic is mirrored by those of news publications across the country.

People process an abundance of information online every day. The internet is simply faster, more convenient and home to a wider variety of content.

We as the media have no choice but to adapt, not only to thrive as an industry but to connect with the people we serve. The newspaper is indeed dying, but the transition to online has provided a glaring opportunity to reinvent ourselves for the better.

From dying to thriving.

Watchdog journalism and community leadership are still priorities. Let it be known that our relentless pursuit of honest and trustworthy reporting has not grown obsolete along with the newspapers.

So yes, our original medium is dying, but our possibilities, impact, and service to the world have only just begun.