One of my biggest headaches in life is the phrase “print is dead.” Sure, technology is eroding the need for it and younger generations are “glued to their phones” and all the other statements that follow when people state “print is dead,” but print is NOT dead. (Yet.)
Last week the Texas A&M president ended the print publication of the Battalion, the campus’ 129-year-old paper. The paper will continue online-only after this spring semester. The paper going strictly online was decided without student or advisor input.
I took this story personally because I have loved print journalism since highschool. The Herald turning 100 has left me feeling particularly ready to defend print at any given moment. (Truly, if they sold a fresh printed newspaper scent as a candle I would buy it.)
At the initial announcement, it was said The Battalion paper was going to stop being printed effective immediately. However, A&M University President M. Katherine Banks said she would allow them to continue printing for the rest of the spring 2022 semester. Banks also admitted to not seeing ‘exactly why (print media) is important to the field.”
The decision to cease printing was made without any members or leadership of The Battalion or any journalism instructors. I truly can’t imagine waking up one day and being told The Herald was no longer going to print. I would be devastated to hear the news. It would further upset me if the one making the decision said they don’t get why it is important.
Of course I would be dumb not to say that print is being phased out and evolving to online, as sad as it is. More and more people are going to their phones to read the news. However, we should not devalue what print media has to offer.
I look up from my office as I am writing and see framed newspapers reading “Germany Surrenders,” “Nixon Resigns” and “Clinton Wins!.” I think of all the archived newspapers we have in the room, the first drafts of history. What will the future generations look at in their offices?
I can’t fathom the repercussions of printed journalism just dropping off the face of the earth. Have you ever been searching for an article and stumbled upon a broken URL? Imagine if that URL was to an important news story, a piece of history.
Print is valuable, trustworthy and consistent. In such a fast paced world it’s what you want. You can grab it and write on it, hold it in your hands while you drink your cup of coffee. There’s truly nothing like it.
I urge everyone to pick up and support their school newspaper, their local paper, their state paper. Continue to buy books, school yearbooks and magazines. Continue reading and buying words in the physical form.
Categories: Opinion
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