The newspaper still stirs

Newspaper is not dead, yet. Although, it will, and soon.

This may not sound nostalgic to some people. Many that are older than me are still holding dear to the idea of the printed paper, magazines and books. "No, they cannot die!" And some might even believe that it is about the confidence: If every one of us holds up the belief that print media will survive and keeps buying, it will survive. It works like the stock market. Or, is it?

The last time the newspaper business was in trouble was back in 1765 when the British Parliament decided to levy a new tax, requiring government-issued stamps on each printed-paper. Beginning November that year, printers pay halfpenny for every half sheet and two shilling for every advertisement.

Jill Lepore's recent story Back Issue in New Yorker magazine recalled: "On October 31, the New-Hampshire Gazette appeared with black mourning borders and, in a column on page 1, lamented its own demise: 'I must Die!” The Connecticut Courant quoted the book of Samuel: “Tell it not in Gath! publish it not in Askalon!” The newspaper is dead!"

But newspaper was not dead. After the Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766 in the midst of opposition. Newspaper stirred and came back to life. But this time, it is not the government. It is the technology that has invaded. This time, newspaper will die.

At the center of the issue is the question of the fundamental function of the newspaper --- to disseminate information as fast as possible. What if there is a way to disseminate more information much faster, and for free? The technology has made it a reality. In a matter of a few years, digital newspapers and online news have dramatically changed our way of obtaining news, no matter whether we like it or not.

But I think it is time to celebrate. Newspaper is going to die, but news will go on. Newspaper is taking a whole new shape and become omnipotent. It is not the time to be nostalgic although you are feeling the pain.