Online NewspapersThe Pros and Cons

PRO

• Online news can be presented in ways that make information more easily consumed:– Graphs– Photos– Video– Audio– Links

The following data visualization shows Occupy movements from around the world. When viewed on The Guardian website, readers can hover over a dot to read a description about the particular movement. This is something that could only be done in an online format.

CON

• Journalists are now being trained differently due to the technological revolution. So, journalists who have been part of the game for quite some time now will have to adapt.

“What is this…Twitter…that you speak of?”

PRO

• Information is disseminated more quickly and to a wider audience:– Breaking news can be

updated as needed– Anyone with internet

access can view a lot of news

– Ex) many went online to get updates during the September 11th attacks

CON

• Statewide and local papers (such as the Hartford Courant) have already had to lay off reporters. If there were no longer print newspapers, then more layoffs would undoubtedly be made.

PRO

• The online medium allows for more interactivity with readers– Commenting– Polls– User-Generated Content

CON

• Newspapers have been available in print form for over 100 years. Do we really want to completely abandon this traditional form of news reporting?