Are the Newspapers Still in Business?

  Over the past decades it has become evident that the business for newspapers, especially local ones, is dwindling away, as TV, online, and radio news becomes more popular. Small, free papers are rather uncommon, and it seems almost old-fashioned to see a newspaper sitting on some one's coffee table anymore. It appears the glory days of the newspaper are over.

 However, others disagree with the idea that "The sky is falling and newspapers are always dying." Some large newspapers are still doing well for themselves, like The Wall Street Journal that is watching it's subscription numbers climb, and with it, their revenue. Caroline Little, NAA president and CEO, states that "Our industry’s business model has changed dramatically in the past half-dozen years. In 2007, 80% of newspaper media revenue was generated from advertising. In 2013, less than half of total revenue (46%) was from advertising in the daily and Sunday print newspaper."

 So if newspapers' historic way of earning money is decreasing, what fills the gap? Well, firstly, advertising still accounts for half of the newspaper businesses revenue, which remains a large portion, even though it's lessened. Classifieds, with smaller businesses or individuals selling or trading products, pay for much off smaller, local newspapers. And there are also personal ads which are requests for services, or sometimes products, almost the opposite of classifieds. Still, the greatest filler of the gap for newspapers that are now depending less on advertising is subscriptions. "What is...true is that the public’s thirst for news keeps rising." Caroline Little reminds us.

 Deborah Waltenburg in a way, agrees with this statement, but realizes it goes further than just wanting news."While advertisements, subscriptions and inserts bring in revenue, newspapers only make money because they offer something that readers want: worthwhile content." No matter how much or how little newspapers make from advertising, classifieds, personal ads, subscriptions, etc. their greatest profit will be from sharing honest, important, and interesting news. News remains the biggest money-maker for newspapers. Isn't that the way it should be?