Stock of newspapers in an office in Dimapur. (Morung Photo)
Mongsentong Longkumer
Dimapur | March 22
In the first of the two-part series, the ‘Plight of hawkers & distributors post-lockdown’ were highlighted on March 19 issue of The Morung Express. In this part, households and individuals who are at the forefront of this changing landscape share their perspective and how the ever-present smart phones in their hands have contributed to the change.
Readership’s disinterest
Ruth (name changed), is a house wife and a mother of two. She is also a retired government servant and lives with her husband and son in their private home at Ura Villa colony, Dimapur.
Ruth told this journalist that previously they regularly subscribed to two newspapers, an English language newspaper and the other in their local language. However, they have stopped the English newspaper subscription since no one reads it at their home anymore. “My son doesn’t read the newspaper. For me and my husband, we only read local language newspaper so we have stopped subscribing to the English version about a year ago.”
Ruth’s friend and neighbour echoes the same thoughts as hers. Without anyone to read the newspaper, they decided to stop their subscription as well. “At first the person delivering the papers begged us not to cancel it but I didn’t want to spend money unnecessarily so I had to eventually.”
She explains that with the advent of YouTube creators posting news updates online, it has become more convenient for all of them. “Now I can listen to the news and do my other chores in the house as well.”
The recent phenomenon of YouTube content creators posting news on their channels have certainly been at the expense of the print media. In one way or the other, this has created the momentum for the trend that is seen today across the state.
Unethical practices
Senior journalist based in Kohima, Atono Tsükrü Kense says, “Reading physical print of newspapers has certainly lost its appeal among the young. The popularity of social media and fast coupled with the pandemic is greatly affecting print media.” Further adding that even though digital media is trending with every one becoming a self-styled editor or journalist, there are both good and bad reasons for it.
She warned that on the flip side, there is a habit of plagiarism by news content creators of digital media, which is absolutely unethical and unprofessional.
“As we all know we are habituated beings that want free stuff all the time. I think newspaper agencies should stop the practice of circulating PDF files of newspapers for free,” she expressed.
Atono also mentioned that so much human resource, time and efforts are required for publishing a newspaper. She nonetheless expressed that at the end of the day, “I still prefer a physical copy of the newspaper in my hands, which is reliable and provides in-depth information of happenings.”
Online- the new normal
Alemla is a young lecturer at a university in Dimapur. She lives in a rented apartment with her sister on the far-end of town. Life becomes a hectic mess for her as classes and other commitments eat up her spare time. She shares that, apart from unavailability of time to read a physical newspaper every day, online publication and other social media news sites are ‘reliable and informative enough’. While being quick and on the go to get the latest news updates as well.
Another student living in Guwahati opined that the reasons why many young individuals don’t read printed newspapers, is because they’re ‘unreliable and time consuming.’ While mentioning that as a student, online news sites are free where as printed ones cost money. While further mentioning that the practice of ‘saving screen-shots’ for future references is also what makes digital platforms more appealing. However, she admitted that part of the reason why she does not like reading the newspaper has to do with laziness. A sentiment shared by many like-minded young people such as her.
This is the last of a two-part series.
