We have more information about news consumption than ever before.
Problem is, we’re not sure what it all means, or how it will impact the future of community journalism.
Let’s take something that came out just this week: The Pew Research Center tells us that tablet computers are exploding in popularity. For instance: it took the iPad one quarter to reach the same rate of unit sales that DVD players took five years to achieve. Which is not to say that we were slow to part with VHS and move to DVDs. In fact, it was considered a phenomenally quick transition for a nation where so many people already had a VHS player next to their TV sets.
Phenomenal, that is, until the tablet came along. Now 11 percent of American adults have Internet access via tablets. At its current rate, the iPad will pass gaming hardware and cellphones to become the fourth biggest consumer electronics category next year.
And what does that mean for news? Of tablet owners, 77 percent read the news on their device once a week, and 23 percent have a print subscription that gives them free access to tablet services.
That’s the good news. On the other hand, only 21 percent of those who don’t have news access would be willing to pay $5 a month to access their favorite tablet news site.
It’s just one more confusing part of the media future into which we’re rushing headlong. The bottom line for community journalism? Nobody knows how all of this will shake out, but we have to stay abreast of the issues and trends, so that we won’t be starting from scratch when it’s time to make some critical decisions that will affect our newspapers and news sites.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/39501308/iPad_Adoption_Rate_Fastest_Ever_Passing_DVD_Player
http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2011/10/the_tablet_-_a_saving.php
http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2011/10/get_on_the_tablet_bandwagon_quickly.php