With our Web site launch last semester, it is easy to see that The Lion’s Roar newspaper is heading towards a more digital presence. Soon our department will have Web presence on Facebook, Twitter and even email newsletters. These new mediums of news and information will allow us to better meet the needs of students on campus by providing them with the information they want and need at their fingertips.

With our news being streamed to us via TV, Internet, social media, email and smartphones every single day, gone are the days when we waited patiently for nightly news or morning newspaper delivery. Our generation no longer wants to wait for anything, especially information. We demand video, photos and articles through both one-way and interactive communication. Social media provides us with exactly this unique opportunity to provide interactive news alongside photos, videos and quality journalism. Without the restriction of print, we will be able to reach more people and share more information than ever before. There are no barriers to entry with social media. Everyone who opts to “like” our page will be privy to the information we circulate to our readers each week. Each individual only needs to check their Facebook or Twitter feeds to find out about issues in which they are interested.

It’s certainly no secret that print media, especially newspapers, have been hit hard by the current economic times with slow sales and decreased advertising revenue. But the most significant hit has been the introduction of Web-based media.

So, what are other newspapers doing to survive? Well, they are doing what any industry has had to do to survive in this ever-changing market- adapt, and quickly. Having Web presence is no longer an option, but a necessity. Facebook, Twitter, email newsletters and Web sites are the new minimum demanded by consumers. We want our news and we want it now.

Most newspapers exist as for-profit institutions, generating revenue via advertisements and subscriptions. But can ad revenue from the Web keep up with ad revenue generated from print media? According to Bloomberg, a financial news source, the answer is yes. Year 2010 marked the first time that digital advertising revenue exceeded revenue for ads placed in newspapers and print media. This trend in decreasing advertising revenue for newspapers may, in part, be due to the economy as businesses aim to get “more bang for their buck” by advertising online. These digital forms of advertising are much cheaper and sometimes free. Advertisements via the Web have more reach and the effectiveness of online ads is much easier to track and measure.

But is print dead? Not quite. There’s still something to be said for a tangible newspaper with tangible advertisements, coupons and circulars. Many baby boomers are still religiously reading newspapers today and Generations X and Y may still feel the need for something tangible. But as Generation Z (1995-2007) enters the scene, newspapers will no doubt have to innovate to attract this new market segment. Generation Z will be the first generation that has never known a world without social networking, smartphones, e-mail or constant computing. Newspapers may need to think of new, innovative business plans if they want to stay alive in the future.

The Lion’s Roar is certainly no exception to the impact of the digital age. In fact, since our reader base mostly consists of the younger generations we may be impacted more. We are working diligently to meet the needs of our readers. This is why in the coming months you will see us working hard to increase our Web presence. Our readers will be able to access us via our Website, follow us on Twitter, keep up with us on Facebook or subscribe to our weekly newsletter. All of these avenues will serve to keep students, faculty, staff and the community up-to-date on important events and issues they should be aware of.

 The transitioning process from print to Web will be a slow and gradual one spanning many years. There will certainly still be a need for high quality journalism and the free press will not be drying up any time soon. If anything, with the inclusion of the web, the press is becoming even less censored and controlled. Our generation consumes more information than the generations before us and the generations after us will be no exception. They will demand more information, faster and in more mediums than ever before.

All in all, consumers demand interactive, accurate, thought provoking, unbiased information and it is up to the media industry to meet these needs.