Moving all operations online and cutting out print is the smartest thing newspapers can do now. - Inspired by the Christian Science Monitor’s new business model

First of all, the Christian Science Monitor is a non-profit publication financed by the church. So it has a slightly different business model than the majority of other publications, which are very much for-profit. I think the question of whether or not a publication should move all of its operations online is an issue that needs to be dealt with by publications on an individual basis. Some still make quite a bit more from print -- others do not. But there's no way to avoid the shift that's occurring from print to digital on a macro level. Simply put, you can get to digital information quicker. Often, by the time the print version of the publication shows up at your home or office, you've read or heard about the topics in the publication that interest you. And thanks to the RSS Feed, you can gain a "higher-yield" reading experience from digital media. I think that many publications are still scared of jumping fully into digital, and the process remains slow, but it is certainly snowballing -- newspapers and mags are starting to get the picture...

I read a number of newspapers regularly on-line and of course the NY Times is available completely, including archives, on-line at no cost. Still, being an old fart, I enjoy the experience of opening the door in the morning (even at -20C) getting my cup of hot coffee and pouring over a print edition of the national newspaper. Something about unfolding the large piece of newsprint, turning the pages, scanning the headlines and "boring into articles and opinion pieces makes this an essential ritual at the beginning of an information filled day.

Then comes the weekend with a lovely sensual thick pile of print and a long Sunday morning reading in depth articles and reviews- totally indulgent, delicious, and decadent... ahhhh!

--
Mel Blitzer

I agree with Mel that there are certain intrinsic qualities that come with the actual hard copies that many enjoy and would be lost with online versions. Perhaps that could change as Gen Ys and Gen Zs and those that follow take over the population. I was recently speaking with my sister about getting the new Amazon Kindle for my Mom, who is an avid reader. Her response was, "I don't know, there’s something nicer about reading a book as opposed to a screen." I also equate this with the screw top versus cork for wine bottles. Although the screw tops are superior to corks in preserving wine, there is something somewhat ceremonious in removing a cork as opposed to screwing off a cap. It's all about what the market dictates.

I disagree.

I work in technology, and I live and breath online, but people like me tend to forget that there are millions of others in the U.S. (much less the world) without reliable access to the Web. I'm not sure what the solution is financially, but newspapers should not disenfranchise those people.

This country is not ready to eliminate all print just yet - not everybody gets all their news online, and they don't want tto. It is best to phase it in over a number of 5years.

This country is not ready to eliminate all print just yet - not everybody gets all their news online, and they don't want tto. It is best to phase it in over a number of 5years.

This country is not ready to eliminate all print just yet - not everybody gets all their news online, and they don't want tto. It is best to phase it in over a number of 5years.

This country is not ready to eliminate all print just yet - not everybody gets all their news online, and they don't want tto. It is best to phase it in over a number of 5years.

This country is not ready to eliminate all print just yet - not everybody gets all their news online, and they don't want tto. It is best to phase it in over a number of 5years.

This country is not ready to eliminate all print just yet - not everybody gets all their news online, and they don't want tto. It is best to phase it in over a number of 5years.

This country is not ready to eliminate all print just yet - not everybody gets all their news online, and they don't want tto. It is best to phase it in over a number of 5years.

This country is not ready to eliminate all print just yet - not everybody gets all their news online, and they don't want tto. It is best to phase it in over a number of 5years.

This country is not ready to eliminate all print just yet - not everybody gets all their news online, and they don't want tto. It is best to phase it in over a number of 5years.

This country is not ready to eliminate all print just yet - not everybody gets all their news online, and they don't want tto. It is best to phase it in over a number of 5years.

This country is not ready to eliminate all print just yet - not everybody gets all their news online, and they don't want tto. It is best to phase it in over a number of 5years.

I disagree, for now. For most newspapers the primary source of revenue is classified and local advertising. Moving everything online will deminish the value of that revenue stream. These papers will not be able to effectivly demonstrate that they are reaching the local market. Online operations will work very well for national and international newspapers.