Much has changed for the news industry since the rise of the
Internet. The Internet has had a
drastic effect on the way people get their news and as well as the timeliness
in which they receive it. An example of
this influence is shown by the recent readership of The New York Post’s Web
site. According to the Nielsen ratings,
The New York Post’s Web site has had a massive surge in readership over the
last year. (1) The New York Post recorded 3.4 million readers in December
alone, and this makes them the fourth most popular online newspaper. These numbers were up 40 percent from last
month and 75 percent since December 2002.
The New York Post has moved in front of Newsday and Daily News’ online
newspapers and is steadily gaining on the big three online newspapers, The New
York Times, USA Today, and The Washington Post. (1)
This is an
example of the growing trends in Internet newspapers. More and more people are turning to the Internet to get their
news. Many newspaper’s online versions
are receiving greater numbers of readership every month. This allows even the smallest papers to
reach a greater audience and increase their readership base and even compete
with some of the major papers. This
happens because of the many benefits Internet gives to the news industry. The primary benefit of Internet newspapers
is the currency that is available on news sites. (2) Unlike print newspapers,
Internet sites can be updated at any time and can have the most up to date
news. This is the greatest benefit
Internet newspapers have over printed news.
There is
also the advantage of being able to provide more information and other sections
that you would be unable to find in the print editions of the same papers. For example, The New York Post’s Web site
features a real-estate section, which has become one of the sites most popular
features.
As Vin Montuori, The New York
Post’s vice-president of marketing and promotion, says, “We’ve redesigned the
site, and folks are flocking to it.
We’ve made it friendlier, cleaner, more intuitive. It’s easier to get around, and there’s lots
of new fantastic sections.” He
continues to mention how much of an effect the Internet site has on their
printed version. Montuori said, “The
idea of course is to sell more newspapers.
The site benefits from the paper’s incredible growth.” (1)
These are
some of the main issues and advantages involved in growth of Internet
newspapers. The readership of online
news has increased greatly in recent times and this is because of the demand
news readers are creating and their desire for the instant information, which online
news sites can provide. (2) With all this information I believe it is obvious
that Internet newspapers are going to not only survive but also flourish in the
future. In fact online newspapers may
become peoples primary source for news.
The advantages these Internet newspapers provide are that
substantial. The readership of these
Internet newspaper sites seems likely to continue its current trend of massive
growth.
NOTES:
(1)
“Post’s Web Feat: 3.4
Million Online Readers,” New York Post, 19 January 2004, Also Available
[Online]: InfoTrac Custom Newspapers [Accessed 13 June 2004].
(2)
“YMCA Launches Internet Newspaper,” Korea Times, 22
January 2001, Also Available [Online]: InfoTrac Custom Newspaper [Accessed 13
June 2004].