Print media adapts to draw in readers both old and new

Two major MHCC student publications have been recently released on campus: Perceptions, a literary arts magazine, and Venture, a feature magazine from journalism students.

In combination with the continued efforts by local, professional publications like The Oregonian, these releases go to show, despite those who insist that digital media is the only viable delivery system, print media is not going out of style just yet. Although Kindles, nooks, e-readers, Androids, iPhones and tablets are growing in popularity, there is still a sizable portion of the planet that is keeping print around.

Even though journalism, and the printed word in general, are in a transitional phase, print publications still have as significant an impact today as they ever have. For example, Time magazine recently ran a cover featuring a mother breastfeeding her 3-year-old son, which caused a nationwide stir. If print publications were as dead as naysayers suggest, this type of controversy would have never exploded on social media in the way it did.

Perhaps these physical publications continue to thrive because reading the morning paper on your tablet doesn’t have quite the same appeal as trudging outside to retrieve your paper and reading through the pages one by one, savoring the details over a morning cup of coffee. Not to mention those who still appreciate all the hard work put into creating a publication and getting it to arrive at the community’s doorsteps in the wee hours of the morning bearing the news.

The same goes for books. Even though it is easy to read a book on a digital device, for some it isn’t the same if they aren’t reading the print copy and don’t have the opportunity to leaf through the pages.

We are in an age that could be completely digital; in fact, many people might have expected it to be entirely digital at this point. But, one thing keeping print around are the numerous people who still hold subscriptions to magazines and newspapers, people who would rather read in print than on a digital device.

There are still enough of them out there to keep print around.

We would like to commend our local papers, The (Gresham) Outlook, The Oregonian and Willamette Week, for sticking it out in these hard times and continuing to publish print as well as online editions of their papers.

keeping print publications around is acknowledging there is a battle to retain loyal readers. The tradition and art of print is still present but evolution is needed in order to survive.

Keeping an open mind to Twitter, Facebook, and online journalism is key to holding on to the privilege of producing a tangible product. Journalism should be seen as a healthy diet: all components are necessary for balance, and removing one aspect would cause a deficiency. The different versions of publications are many; on social media, online and in print, all are just as important as the next. Each venue has its own set of readers, all equally in need of information.

While there’s still news to report, governments to keep in check, and interesting stories to tell, there will continue to be all forms of publications, online and off. With an eye towards social media, increased and more balanced coverage that utilizes the Internet in order to showcase on-site videos and photos, print media will continue to adapt and thrive. By reading this editorial, on this page of newsprint, we hope that you, dear readers, continue to honor the long and storied tradition of print media.