TABUK — The print media is facing a big crisis as a result of the increasing influence of the social and electronic media networks that spread news within no time. People can receive the latest news relayed by the social media and online channels through cell phones and computers easily and instantly without waiting for newspapers to bring home the same news the next day morning.
The new electronic media dominates the world of information today and this is a reality. Even famous international newspapers are feeling the punch of social media. Editors in chief of local print newspapers shared their views with Okaz/Saudi Gazette on how to overcome the present challenge posed by the fast expanding electronic media.
They agreed that circulation of newspapers has declined considerably and many of them depend on annual subscription rather than daily sales at bookstalls, groceries and supermarkets. Advertisement volume changes depending on market and economic developments, they added.
“It was quite natural that the circulation of newspapers would decline with the increase of social media networks and electronic news channels,” said Khaled Al-Malik, editor in chief of Al-Jazirah Arabic daily. “Modern information technology has enabled the public to receive the latest news through various channels that are faster than newspapers,” he explained.
Al-Malik said the websites of newspapers help the print media to overcome the challenge posed by the electronic media to a great extent as people can log onto those websites to read the latest news and political developments inside and outside the Kingdom.
“Owners of newspapers understand that the competition is no more between them as new players have entered the market spreading news quickly and professionally,” Al-Malik said. The electronic media is capable of giving the news with sound and pictures from the source of news itself.
Al-Malik referred to a major problem facing the print media, which is the declining advertisement revenue year after year, adding that this has affected newspapers’ development programs. He advised newspaper organizations to diversify their electronic products and develop their content to make it more attractive and appealing to readers.
According to Al-Jazirah chief, the electronic media’s standard has still not reached the expected level to compete with good newspapers. However, he said it was high time for newspaper managers to find viable solutions for the challenge posed by the electronic media.
Al-Malik said the crisis caused by the electronic media would hit large newspapers having several employees and huge facilities as the fall in advertisement revenue would affect their operation. On the other hand, the crisis would have little impact on small newspapers.
Dr. Fahd Al-Aqran, editor in chief of Al-Madina Arabic daily, agreed with Al-Malik that circulation of newspapers has declined considerably as a result of electronic and social media networks.
“There was considerable decrease in advertisement spending in the last quarter of 2015 and this will continue during the first quarter of 2016. Most companies that place advertisements depend on government spending, which has declined,” Al-Aqran said. Also the fear of global economic depression is another reason for low advertisement revenues, he added.
Mohammed Al-Tunsi, editor in chief of Roaya newspaper in the UAE, urged newspapers to confront the challenge with courage. “They have to make total change or close,” he told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.
“Editors in chief of newspapers should set out strategies to increase their circulation instead of just lamenting on low circulation,” he added. “Newspapers should go to the readers not the other way round. They have many options,” Al-Tunsi said and urged the print media to change their style of news presentation, making it more attractive to various groups of readers.
“Newspapers should adopt modern methodology and give greater importance to language,” he said. They should present news in a short and sweet style, he added.
According to a survey conducted by Roaya among the UAE readers, 80 percent of them do not follow news on the print media. “Many of them do not know when they last read a newspaper.”
Sulaiman Al-Osaimi, acting editor in chief of Al-Riyadh Arabic daily, downplayed fears that the print media would disappear. “I can say with confidence that Al-Riyadh was not affected by the electronic and new media. We still receive a lot of ads and we are still No. 1 in terms of ads.”
However, he acknowledged that circulation of his newspaper has declined due to the presence of electronic and social media networks.
“Readers aged between 35 and 60 love to read printed newspapers. This is a fact. The new generation may not like to read newspapers and we can catch them electronically. We should adopt a strategy of developing the print media while interacting with readers through the electronic media. Of course, we have to focus on the electronic media to cope with modernity.”
