Debate Topic:

Newspapers vs. Alternative News Outlets for Young Adults

Newspapers (including newspaper internet sites) today are afflicted by declining readership, especially among young adults between the ages of 16- to 35-years-old. Others deny that newspapers are in decline so much as all media are fighting each other because there are so many choices (market fragmentation--see article). With stiff competition from other media outlets (television, radio, magazines, cable), newspapers struggle to remain profitable. In order to do so, they are “repackaging their product” to make it more visually appealing and reader friendly. Short, readable stories are now replacing long, in-depth articles. More charts, graphs and photos are being used to attract young readers. See this example of what newspapers are doing to attract younger audiences: Life at the Edge of Everything.

Why all the fuss? Some say newspapers should concede defeat to these other outlets and eventually close up shop. Others say that newspapers provide a distinct value to society and therefore, must remain a viable news source for people of all ages.

What do you think?: Should we as a nation worry that young adults no longer want to read the newspaper (paper-based or online) and are getting their news from other sources? Or is there really no need to be concerned because much of what newspapers offer to the public can be obtained by other media sources?

Instructions:

Pick a side to debate: Pro-newspaper (including newspapers on the internet) or Pro-other-media-outlets

The “Pro-newspaper” team should address the following points in the debate:
- As a news source, what value do newspapers (including newspapers on the internet) provide?
- What are the strengths/benefits of newspapers, specifically for readers age 16 – 35?
- State why it should concern the public that newspapers are being replaced by other media.

The “Pro-other-media-outlets” team should address the following points in the debate:
- As news sources, what value do the following media provide: TV, cable, radio, magazines?
- What are the strengths/benefits of these media, specifically for readers age 16 – 35?
- State why it shouldn’t concern us because what is being provided by other media outlets is different and better than what newspapers (including newspapers on the internet) provide to the public.

Related Links (also search keywords: Young Adults, Newspapers, Decline in Readership, etc.):

Columbia Journalism Review: Young People are Reading Everything but Newspapers
http://www.cjr.org/year/02/4/kohutvoice.asp

Young People and News: A Conversation
http://www.cjr.org/year/03/1/conversation.asp

American’s Young Adults Turning to the Internet
http://www.roundtablegroup.com/about/article.cfm?ID=29

Gannett Newsrooms Seek More Ways to Target Young Readers
http://www.gannett.com/go/newswatch/2001/july/nw0720-2.htm