They say the days of books, newspapers, magazines and other print media are fading. But we still see them around, in book shops, at home in some closets or on shelves, at bus stops, in school libraries, at work under someone’s arm.
What keeps them around?
I propose that print media will be around as long as two characteristics cannot be replicated by digital technology. The first characteristic is the page. The second is the freedom to write onto print media in any way you want.
To address the first characteristic: A physical page is powerful. It can be folded or crumpled in any way its reader wants. A page is also usually flipped. The act of flipping pages helps one physically see how much they have read and this can provide a sense of accomplishment for what has been learned. The sound of both, a page being folded or crumpled and being flipped, is the sound of something moving, something being done to the words on those pages. That power of ones’ hands directly doing something with the knowledge on those papers is a feat we usually ascribe to greater powers beyond humanity, yet we do it on a daily basis ourselves.
To address the second characteristic: Unless you’ve stolen someone’s book or newspaper, the paper you hold is most likely at your disposal to edit. Sometimes people will find a pencil and underline things or write notes on the side in shady handwriting along undefined lines or curves. Sometimes they may write so hard that it tears into the next page and leaves aggressive memories. Other times the writing is so faint that it fades with time such that one has to squint to remember the dedication.
Sure, there are digital pages and you can comment on them. But not with the freedom to flip or crumple or scrawl as on something right there in front of you. Audio and visual media are even less at your disposal – what you hear or see is what you get.
If we really think hard, print media makes sounds and has a visual appeal to it, so we cannot say with certainty that print is not audio or visual. But print for the sake of being on flexible paper, and audio and visual for the sake of being on speakers/screens that are static, makes the case in point.
What do you think about print media?
I am cancelling my “Newsweek” subscription because it is going all digital, despite the multiple tablets access.
I like and value a lot print media .I learn a lot from print media.Internet all other forms of digital media are also good but print media gives me freedom .For instance i buy a newspaper and read it anytime without any internet connection all a digital tool to read it.
Kaguta and Jean-Pierre, thanks for your comments. Stay tuned for an argument against print media coming soon.