Is This the End of Print?

The challenge is no longer just to move towards new platforms. It is rather about creating a user experience that is both innovative for the media and reminiscent of the feeling a reader has when holding a traditional newspaper. So, are we saying goodbye to print, or are we giving it a second life?

For several years now, more and more newspapers have been moving away from printing presses to focus all their efforts and investments on their digital transformation. They’ve long been hearing that print is doomed, and this is becoming evident in the habits of younger readers. Indeed, if news doesn’t appear on their Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok feed, there’s little chance they’ll be aware of it. However, we can’t blame them: we all turn to Google with our questions rather than searching through library books. We can therefore affirm that digital is transforming our reading behaviors. Just as television overshadowed radio, the web has changed our relationship with news.

We might even ask ourselves if we still need traditional media in an era where anyone can consume, create, and share content from a smartphone. The answer is simple: absolutely. We need professional journalists whose mission is to report rigorously verified facts in an impartial manner. Moreover, whether it’s newspapers, radio, or television, the vast majority (if not all) now include social media in their content strategy. Just think of Rad (Radio-Canada’s journalism lab) or Brut (a French news video media) which, to reach a younger audience, produce videos and regularly post on Instagram.