On that note, I am one of a limited number of people who are caught between the internet age of instant gratification and the old-fashioned love of ink rubbing off on your hands as you turn the page. I am clinging to the last shreds of print journalism. I am obsessed with tangible news. The print media ship is sinking, and I am a member of the orchestra, playing until the only music I make is that of gurgling bubbles.
Because of this, one would think I am a traditionalist, or someone who prefers to get their news from a newspaper stand. This isn't necessarily true.
Like the rest of my generation, I am constantly "on" - always connected to some sort of media. Though I do not have a Blackberry or internet capability on my cell phone, I have friends who do, and I have text messaging. You do the math. (In fact, I found out about Michael Jackson's death via text message from my best friend.)
I grew up reading the newspaper. Perhaps this is why I am so reluctant to give up print journalism. Regardless, that's not to say that I don't Google like it's my job or read the live newsfeed my computer provides me with each time I minimize my windows, because I do. I find myself increasingly more inclined to read stories online rather than buy a newspaper, but this is partially due to the fact that I am a college student and, therefore, broke. I think that I am a bit of a floater - I'll read news online, sure; it's faster and more convenient, but the journalist in me loathes the idea of not having something to touch, feel, smell. My biggest fear is that the written word will be written out completely. I don't want to see that day come, but I feel as though it is inevitable. As the world morphs, media must as well, and print journalism is no exception. For now, though, I'll take my e-news with a side of print, thank you very much.
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