Will newspapers become extinct?

[Podcastmatters]

Many users of news feeds (RSS feeds from news sites on the 'net) claim that the end of traditional newspapers is nigh. They argue that with the 'net providing up-to-the-minute news delivered right to your desktop, why would you buy a newspaper containing yesterday's news?

The New York Times (a newspaper with a strong web presence), has an article explaining how newspapers are feeling the pinch, not just in reduced sales figures, but because advertisers are moving their ad budgets to online media sources.

Have a read, let us know what you think.

[Gordon]

It also raises the question of "The power of the media". The internet has enabled everybody to have a voice. Blogs, podcasts, discussion groups etc enable each of us to communicate globally so, newspapers are not only feeling the pinch, they're loosing their punch!

I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

[Paul Hutchinson]

We subscribe to two local newspapers.
The Gettysburg Times (our local paper) and The Hanover Evening Sun (local coverage, nearby town).
Until recently I also went down to Emmitsburg on Sunday's and bought The Baltimore Sun and The Frederick Post.
Petrol prices have forced me to stop doing the latter.
Delivery of The Gettysburg Times has made it more of an evening paper than a morning one as it claims.
There is little in either of the papers that I cannot find online on a local forum.
Whilst I still enjoy holding print media in my hand, these various factors are making us stop subscribing to the local papers.
Our local paper does not appear to make use of a spell checker and also writes in a version of the local dialect omitting words that would be included if one were writing in proper English (irritating the missus no end).
I generally get my news from the little bit of TV I watch, or online via Google News.
I only want a bit of news, just to know what the heck is going on in the world.
Actually, I find out stuff via Twitter before anywhere else, which is odd.
Anyway, from my own perspective, having also spoken with someone in local media, newspapers' future is sketchy and changes will have to be made for them to continue (like doing more online content).
I pay no attention to ads, so they already lost me there.