In a rapidly evolving media landscape, the transformation from traditional print newspapers to the digital realm has changed the media industry.
As the media landscape undergoes a profound transformation, industry experts collectively emphasize the need for adaptability, credibility, and embracing digital strategies to navigate the evolving preferences of the new generation and ensure the continued relevance of journalism in the digital age.
Senior Journalist Mazhar Abbas emphasizes the importance of effective and credible digital platforms in shaping the learning experiences of the new generation.
He underscores the need to focus on content that educates rather than confuses, highlighting the vast information accessible through the internet.
Abbas urges a critical assessment of the discussions among the new generation, suggesting that confusion signals a need for attention.
According to him, the fact that everyone now wants to break the news on social media has led to huge disinformation.
Director of CEJ (Centre for Excellence in Journalism), Amber Raheem Shamsi, addresses the lack of adaptability in the industry.
She acknowledges the decline in newspaper readership among the new generation but questions the efforts made to engage them in political and civic affairs.
Shamsi criticizes certain print media outlets in Pakistan for their weak strategies and failure to embrace global digital trends.
She suggests potential revenue-generating strategies, including subscriptions, newsletters, notifications, and leveraging social media platforms, emphasizing the opportunity for independent and free journalism through a digital-first approach.
Techno Economist Dr. Ghulam Murtaza Khuhro explores the global nature of social media audiences, emphasizing the widespread embrace of digital media even in underdeveloped areas.
He highlights the crucial role social media platforms play in informing and educating people, contrasting this with the slow adaptation of print media to technological advancements.
Dr. Khuhro warns that a failure to embrace digital technology could lead to the imminent collapse of traditional print media.
Declining Circulation and the Rise of Digital Access
Newspaper Distributor Shabeer Ahmed provides a firsthand account of the significant decline in newspaper circulation.
He notes the drastic shift from large-scale distribution requiring vans to the current scenario where all newspapers for a group can be delivered on a single bike.