ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF FUTURE NEWSPAPERS

Abstract

Purpose of the study: This paper reviews recent literature on issues and challenges of the future newspaper. It traces issues and challenges that generally impacting the journalism industry worldwide and may be applied for future studies that shall further examine this matter empirically.
 Methodology: This is a discussion paper that does not apply any research method. The discussion is done based on recent reviews related to the issue of the future of the newspaper and its trend.
 Main Findings: Based on the review, there are five major issues and challenges identified which are the decline in newspaper circulations around the world, and the shrinking size of the industry. Following Wahl-Jorgensen et al. (2016), risks and threats, opportunities and digital journalism are fundamental questions that constitute a discussion of the future of the newspaper. Among the clear risks and threats is the issue of circulation, the emergence of the digital industry and its business model, social media and smartphones and several other issues such as identifying the direction of the newspaper's future discussions covering false news, speed of information (risks and threats), digital business model and the role of major industry players in digital world such as Google (opportunities) besides data and computer journalism (digital journalism). This discussion concludes that the future of the newspaper is seen to be very influenced by the emergence of digital journalism while the print version will continue to be vulnerable. The main issue which is seen as a threat is false news and information verification methods.
 Applications of this study: The above main findings may be used for further empirical investigation on the future of the newspaper in various countries in the world. The findings may also inform media practitioners on the current issues and challenges the industry is facing in general, and on what is being researched and discussed by academia on this topic.
 Novelty/Originality of this study: This discussion provides a summary of issues and challenges of the future of newspaper and this will enable readers to identify the main issues surrounding this topic. So far, there have been studies and discussions, but this paper presents the main issues and challenges on this topic in a systematic way based on recent previous studies and media reports.