Melissa Miller is business editor at The Southeast Missourian. A graduate of the University of Missouri Journalism School, she's worked as a reporter, photographer, editor and as the executive director of two not-for-profit organizations. After living in Michigan and then Indiana, she moved back to her hometown of Jackson, Mo. In addition to writing daily stories for The Southeast Missourian, Melissa coordinates editorial content each month for Business Today. Business Today is a monthly publication for southeast Missouri's business community. Monthly themes include health care, agriculture, women in business, technology and more. Business Today is direct mailed to business owner and managers throughout southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. Follow her updates on local business developments at www.twitter.com/semissourianbiz or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MelissaMillerSoutheastMissourian

Will the iPad replace your newspaper?

Posted Friday, March 12, 2010, at 4:45 PM

Today Apple began accepting pre-orders for its new iPad. This new device is essentially a giant iphone, without the phone part. It's 9.7 inch screen allows you to browse the web, check your email and use thousands of apps.

It's ushering in a new age of tablet-style computers that eventually will probably replace traditional laptop computers.....but will it replace your daily newspaper?

Many in the publishing industry think it might. Traditional forms of media, including newspapers and magazines have struggled to convert themselves into online forms.

Some newspaper subscriptions could soon be delivered to your iPad, instead of tossed out in your driveway.

Will people pay for content to be delivered to their computer tablet the same way they pay for their newspaper subscriptions? I think they will.

If you've invested in an iPad or something similar, then you'll want to add apps to make it as useful to you as possible.

But for someone whose made the newspaper business her career, nothing replaces the tactile experience of paging through the paper or the ink stains reading it leaves on your hands.

Whatever future forms journalism may take.....I'm along for the ride.

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There's enough FREE news all over the internet, why would anyone pay for it? Essentially all you're paying for is a bunch of opinion anyway.

The print news media has been dead for years, they just haven't realized it yet.

This paper, for example, will never do a story on anything provocative or investigative, unless it suits the tastes of the owner of the company.

It's all fluff and linked A.P. stories...

-- Posted by the_eye on Fri, Mar 12, 2010, at 6:14 PM
Will the iPad replace the daily newspaper? No. Sorry, but the daily newspaper has already been replaced. That happened a couple of years ago. Newspaper publishers and editors don't want to own up to it.

I don't know if tablet pc's are going to be a hit. The iPad is going to be an oversized remote control for other devices in your house. It will also be an oversized iPod Touch.

-- Posted by SEMissouri70 on Fri, Mar 12, 2010, at 8:10 PM
With all due respect, I agree completely with SEMissouri70. Newspapers, actual paper newspapers at least, have already been replaced, and with the younger generation never needing them, they are extinct for all practical purposes right now. I honestly can't remember the last time I paid for an actual newspaper. Matter of fact, I think the last time anyone in my family paid for an actual newspaper, it was because we needed to put it on the floor so we could paint - and the next day bought a tarp instead anyway. That is an honest statement on my part, not hyperbole.

I really can't think of a reason anyone should buy an actual paper newspaper in this day and age. I'm not belittling any news organization or reporter, just being honest.

-- Posted by gomer on Fri, Mar 12, 2010, at 8:58 PM
The only thing the IPad will replace is the dollars in your wallet. Had an opportunity to touch and play a bit with one on the west coast. The hype far exceeds the utility. Imagine luggine an IPhone the size of file folder around, and it doesn't do as much.

-- Posted by ParkerDaws on Sat, Mar 13, 2010, at 5:17 AM
All my news is online. I'm 47 and see no need for a daily paper.

-- Posted by matou on Sun, Mar 14, 2010, at 7:25 PM
For myself the newspaper has been replaced many years ago by the internet. Why would I pay for a paper that for all intensive purposes is "old" news by the time it stains my fingers from turning the page the next morning.

Well gotta go, just received a news alert on my phone.

-- Posted by gman on Mon, Mar 15, 2010, at 7:54 AM
I miss reading the local paper but when I had it delivered, it would simply pile up :(. After seeing the iPad online, all I could think was I had all that capability w/my iPhone plus the communications; why would I want an iPad? And believe me, I am a Mac buff.

It bothers me, though, becoming dependent on the Internet and computer for information, communication, banking, etc. I foresee dire consequences in the far future.

-- Posted by silverwalk on Wed, Mar 17, 2010, at 1:22 AM

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