Newspaper won't die in the Philippines
Unless it’s given for free or there’s really a topic that interests me, I never buy a newspaper. Gone are the days where I would wake up early in the morning to buy an issue of the Inquirer. If an article appeals to me, I cut it out and keep it for future reference.
Now, I use Press Display’s Press Reader. It’s an application that let’s you read newspaper around the world in offline mode. You have to sign up first with the site, download the software, and go to the newspaper you want to download. The articles are presented the way you would read it in a printed newspaper, including the advertisements.
Go to the larger version of this image.
But unlike in the United States, newspaper will not die in the Philippines. At least not yet.
The frontpage today of the Inquirer.
For one, Internet penetration is low. If we were to be believe the survey, only six percent of more than 90 million people in the Philippines have access to the Internet. I bet those who rent in computer shops have more important thing to do than reading newspapers.
Second, a newspaper is easier to read. If I were to choose between an actual paper and an online version, I’d rather read the paper version.
Third, newspaper are used in other purposes. You can recycle it, or make it as pambalot ng tinapa.
Lastly, you cannot use your computer to swat the fly. Plus, you cannot bring it to the bathroom to do number 2.
But in the end, it’s all a matter of Internet accessibility. If all people will have Internet access, eventually, newspapers (the printed copy) will have to go.
