Is the Amazon Kindle DX the Answer for the Struggling Newspaper Industry?
Aside from being a revolutionary gadget that is taking reading to unexplored levels, the Kindle DX now has another important role: that of a savior to the ailing newspaper industry. Subscription plunged to such low levels that even the most respected papers have had to fold-up or make huge cuts in the budget, laying off people, removing other sections of the paper, or even coming out less frequently. Some of the bigger organizations such as the New York Times now publish online versions of the printed paper, and most of them have also taken to having digital versions that can be read through the Kindle.
Some say that the change is a good thing for the newspaper industry. The printed paper has been around since Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick published its first, and last, edition in 1690. Now that the digital age has revolutionized almost every other aspect of human life, the paper is simply falling into place. Many people see the trend as inevitable and think that it would be unwise if papers were to resist. Instead, opting to go where the momentum leads them may allow papers to get to readers more easily and with less waste. Hopefully, this will persuade people to pick up their subscriptions again.
On the other hand, there are also those who don’t quite agree with the move of creating e-versions of newspapers for the Kindle DX. Publications who want to retain readership have already turned to publishing online versions of the paper and earn money from site advertisers. So why then would people pay just to have Kindle versions of the same stuff that they can find online for free? Those who see the logic in this argument believe that having subscriptions sold for the Amazon Kindle DX would be a waste of time, effort, and resources on the publisher concerned, and could be the last straw that may bring about the demise of the industry. Already, blogs, which is considered pseudo-journalism, are becoming a good source of news.
Still, it would be interesting to see how readers will react if more publishers come up with newspapers in Kindle DX format that subscribers can receive on a regular basis. Will this perhaps reignite interest in newspapers in general, and turn around the deteriorating fortunes of the newspaper industry? With the Kindle considered as a revolutionary device in the world of reading, as touted by most Kindle DX review, it could possibly improve the state of the newspaper industry. One thing that the papers are doing to give added value to Kindle subscribers is to offer live updates, making news more accessible, even without a computer or internet connection. Just imagine waking up in the morning, turning on your Kindle DX, and then finding fresh news.
There really is no way to tell if the Amazon Kindle DX will save the newspaper industry, but right now it may be the only chance they have.
