Context:

  • Until a few years ago, Print media (Ex: Newspapers, magazines) was the main source of news and entertainment. But now, Digital media (Ex:- Websites, Apps, Social media etc.) is giving a tough competition to Print media resulting in debates on whether print media is dying.

Print Media:

Advantages of Print Media:

  • Print media is more trustworthy because once the news is published, it cannot be modified or deleted. Whereas in digital media, we can modify or delete the contents. So, those who run the newspapers and magazines will be extra careful while publishing the news or articles. Hence Print media is more trustworthy than digital media.
  • Following Print media can save a lot of time because all the content is compiled in a newspaper or magazine.
  • These days, studies and work involve screen time for many. So, print media is like a break and relief. Moreover, at present more and more people are opting for Digital Detox time. Print media is super useful for them.
  • When we read newspapers, there will be no distractions and hence we can totally focus on it. This is an advantage of print media over digital media, which can distract us a lot with its various options and clickable advertisements.
  • Still, some remote areas in India have limited access to the internet. Print media is a blessing for them to know the latest happenings around the world.
  • Several online news websites are bringing their print versions to reach more consumers and to establish credibility. This makes us realize the importance of print media.
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Disadvantages of Print Media:

  • Print media is just one-way communication. It gives information to the public, but consumers cannot share their opinions. Even though some newspapers publish readers’ mails, it is not user-friendly.
  • To search for articles on a piece of particular news in the newspapers or magazines archives is a very difficult task.
  • Print media cannot target a specific audience, whereas digital media can show different ads to a different type of audience and thereby can generate more revenue.
  • Print media is not helpful for some people with disabilities, whereas digital media has accessibility options in general. For example, digital media helps people with visual impairment by providing audio versions of the content.

Digital Media:

Advantages of Digital Media:

  • Digital media gives fast updates and enables us to be aware of the latest happenings, whereas with print media we have to wait till the next day. This makes it easy to spread important news among the public.
  • Digital media is two-way communication. Consumers can share their opinions, thoughts and feedback in an instant. This can also give consumers a sense of community.
  • It is Eco-friendly, whereas print media requires paper that is harvested from trees.
  • The famous newspapers are also establishing their own online news portals. This is because of the growing importance of digital media.
  • We can search for a piece of information easily in digital media.
  • Small companies can easily advertise on digital media platforms because it is less expensive than advertising on print media.
  • Digital media platforms can generate revenue from old contents too. So, they will get more revenue and hence can invest more in the quality of the content.
  • Digital media is democratic unlike print media, which is often run by big businesses.
  • Smartphone users are increasing rapidly, and so many digital media platforms are offering content for free due to advertisements. So, people can easily read and watch content without spending much.
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Disadvantages of Digital Media:

  • As anyone can easily generate content for digital media, fake news is on the rise. As a result, unless they are famous and have a good name, digital media platforms are not being trusted by the public.
  • Digital media platforms can track our interests and thereby can develop our personality profile.
  • Print media publishes only important news. But digital media platforms publish every little thing, so they contain lots of unnecessary news.
  • Staring at the screen for a long time results in health problems.
  • Many digital media publishes content throughout the day. So, people can check for new content always. Many people are getting addicted to news and entertainment content. This is causing ‘Headline stress disorder‘ for many.

Conclusion:

Both Print and Digital media have their own advantages & disadvantages and have a solid userbase. However, if we consider the present trends, the consumers of Digital media are increasing at a rapid rate and the share of print media is slipping. But Print is not dying. In fact with increasing literacy rates, print is acquiring more users. So, we can say that Print and Digital media are co-existing quite happily.

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Your Turn…

What are your thoughts on Print Media vs Digital Media? Which media do you follow regularly? Express your thoughts through the comment section and subscribe to our blog to read answers to the trending GD topics.

References:

  1. Print is still growing in India: Mediacom’s Stephen Allan
  2. DIGITAL VS. PRINT MEDIA

  3. Print vs. Digital

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12 Comments

  • Shuru, Feb 28, 2023 @ 10:57 am Reply

    Great article. Will look forward for more such information

  • bebika, Jul 22, 2022 @ 6:22 pm Reply

    Both media have advantages and disadvantages. In today’s fast moving world, digital media gives real quick updates/ news without having to wait for newspapers in the next day. Also it is a two way communication where you can give your feedback or opinion instantly. However Print media is more trustworthy because the news comes out from a reliable source and hence cannot be modified or changed once it gets printed.

  • aminu m. shawai, Aug 5, 2021 @ 2:08 am Reply

    in my own point of view, they are both useful but the print media are more reliable than the digital media because in digital media most of the news are unverified while in print media news are verified with the sources.

  • Pet, May 31, 2020 @ 11:15 pm Reply

    I would like to say here is that each subject have their own characteristics. That depend on individual’s point of view, wether it weigh on more beneficial side or drawback one. According to me, both media have their own advantage – disadvantage but as per my perspective, digital media have more impact on beneficiality than the print media have. Through digital media, we can have much more data about the news in terms of quick time and information rather than the print media have. Digital media help to boost revenue by advertising the content of third party. Through digital media, we can have individual’s feedback or opinion about each updated news which helpful to understand the people’s mood toward the country and outside world. Using digital media, one can able to imitate the campaign against the government with the help of citizen’s support. Print media do not possess above said advantages which digital media have. Based on beneficial point about the digital media that I bring up here, I would like to have put weigh on digital media environment rather than print media.

  • Shrushti Mulage, Apr 16, 2020 @ 4:20 pm Reply

    Offcourse both media are quite important too us. But now-a-days as we have entered technology era, the users of digital media is quite vast as compare to print media and soon digital media is gonna take over. Reading books, news, comic, magazine are being quite easy with digital. but again, it comes with its disadvantages. Digital Media quicking make there user addictive, which can led to serious health issues. so, make limited use of digital media, and try opting to print media wherever possible.

  • Souvik Rudra Biswas., Feb 12, 2020 @ 5:23 pm Reply

    Well ,
    According to my own view I would like to say both of very important media to us.Those have some merits and demerits also.
    This is modern age so I think the digital media is very much applicable with this age.And we know through this media we can easily communicate with our lots of friends those are living far distance from us ,we can do group study easily everywere through internet, and we can send every data within a second.So ,I also appreciate this media
    But It’s fully depending on network it’s a bad advantage because,if we go any Rural area we can’t communicate eachother so I think there also print media is applicable , digital media is very costly media that’s not for all people. So ,I think as our country is not developed country it’s still developing so , print media is applicable for everyone and every places.
    Well,I don’t want to extend my speech with you nice time.Thank you 😊

  • Rohit kuntal, Nov 7, 2019 @ 6:59 am Reply

    I think both media have its own importance in modern life but I am in favour of print media I think most of the people do not trust on digital media they think news as fake but in print media it is most trustworthy because when a news publisher published a news then he is more aware about his mistakes
    Print media can also available in rural areas but digital media can not so In my opinion print media is more beneficial than digit media

  • Lokesh Kumar, Oct 5, 2019 @ 6:19 pm Reply

    In my view both the media have their owm importance. In digital media is very good for those people which are blind but have interested in news so they can fill their interest by listening the news. And those people which eye weakness problem printed media is netter option for them. And in this world if their any advantage of any thing then it also have some disadvantages.So in my opinion i prefered both the media whether its is printed or digital

  • Pradeep, Sep 29, 2019 @ 6:26 pm Reply

    From my point of view both digital and printed media is now in the mode of competition and have both advantage and disadvantages. As I am in favour of printed media as compare to digital media .because printed media play a great role to access all the events and news in the remote area where the internate facility is absent.it is more reliable than digital platform .because in digital Media we access the news in a fastest way which my be sometimes fake ,wrong advertisement’s which lead to the people sometime in the dilemma.now a days printed media is less competitive than digital media but having less distraction, less health hazard and recyclable also. But we are in the 20th century so we should think about digital platform to get faster access to fakeless news and be eco friendly ..

  • Tinku Paul, Sep 27, 2019 @ 7:22 am Reply

    According to me print media and digital media both are important but through digital media people get the information at a time and not only that any incident happens reporter reach to the spot and try to cover and show it but through print media we get information late , though print media is more authenticate than digital media. Nowadays everybody has smartphone through which people get all the information very early but digital media sometimes deviate the truth and mix the colour and show it because of desire to eat the people I e they sale the news for their business purpose. According to me both media have some advantages or disadvantages. But nowadays people more comfortable with digital media than print media.

  • Ajay, Sep 22, 2019 @ 2:03 pm Reply

    In my opinion, both of have advantages and disadvantages.
    But I prefer to printed media. Because some remote locations where Internet connection have not reached in a batter way. There are only one way to update with latest information. eye vision becomes week to continue and longer time to use digital media. And we cannot get all content in one place. But in the print media we easily get all the information in one newspaper. Poverty people which no good income sources to connect with digital media. They can only have updated with latest information by print media.

  • Pankaj, Sep 19, 2019 @ 3:22 pm Reply

    Both have there advantages and disadvantages.
    Digital media is future of medium to spread news.
    Comment sessions, sharing options, likes n dislikes etc. are some of the good features facilitating two way communication. It is very portable, convenience and cost-effective to read from digital media. But in terms of quality of letters print media can’t be replaced. Bcz it’s glare free experience.

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