Newspapers in modern world, is it still relevant?

The pandemic has changed the game of media landscape in the Philippines, as the COVID-19 virus paralyzed the country’s economy and motion for more than a year, print media also became susceptible to the outcomes of these difficulties, but this occurrence doesn’t equate to what the society tells us to do – to stop printing newspapers.

Conversations afloat on whether it is still relevant to sell and circulate newspapers every day, since most, if not all, of the media outlets in the country have transitioned from print to online. This could be due to various reasons such as financial challenges, changes in readership patterns, or a shift toward digital media consumption.

Stopping newspapers in the Philippines creates massive discourse among the media sector and in general public. It makes us worry about how access can get news and truthful information, how can media generate progressive write-ups to hold leaders accountable, and keep the important tradition of reading newspapers.

Even though technology is moving fast, saying goodbye to the familiar newspaper that's been a part of our society for a long time should never be an option as it entails culture and serves as a job to print media workers.

Apart from culture, halting the production of newspapers creates adverse effects on access to information in the countryside. Given that the Philippines is an archipelagic country that consists of more than 7, 645 islands, millions of Filipinos residing in far-flung areas are in jeopardy of not receiving any information.

Given that we are living in a technological era, we should take note that not everyone has already jumped to it. Not everyone has fancy gadgets or internet access. Newspapers make sure everyone can get the news, no matter where they are or how much money they have.

In a democratic country like the Philippines, leaders are entrusted with the responsibility to make decisions that impact the lives of the citizens. However, this power comes with the need for transparency and accountability. Newspapers, as a form of media, play a crucial role in scrutinizing the actions and decisions of leaders.

Aside from this, by providing an independent and critical perspective through print media, newspapers contribute to holding leaders accountable for their actions. The exposure of wrongdoing or questionable practices serves as a deterrent and encourages ethical behavior among those in positions of power. This scrutiny is essential to prevent abuse of authority and to maintain the integrity of the democratic process.

In essence, the idea is that newspapers act as a public watchdog, promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance by keeping a close eye on the activities of leaders and ensuring that the public is well-informed about the decisions that impact their lives.

As reported by Dr. Richard Fletcher, Finland’s Taloussanomat and Canada’s La Presse—have decided to stop printing and go online only. Others, like the Sydney Morning Herald, are debating whether to follow. Those newspapers that have made the switch often paint a rosy picture of a sustainable and profitable digital future.

Should the Filipino Journalists should follow? Definitely no. First, we are not a first-world country. We do not have the luxury of transforming credible pieces of information fully online because one way or another, there are people who do not have the means to access it.

Media and newspapers should not defeat their purpose by the sole purpose of capitalizing on the online platform but rather they should live up to the objectives of serving the people utilizing delivering news without compromising newspapers.