Daily Times

Sir: The print media is passing through changing times. A speedy growth of the social and electronic media is affecting it in so many ways. But, contrary to a common misconception, this growth has not reduced the importance of print media, which has been growing since the invention of the printing press. The invention of the Internet and its increasing use has made it easier for the print media to reach a larger readership than before. However, using new means also needs new patterns. For instance, giving more space to readers’ views is needed in these times. Yet some newspapers and magazines are either giving less space to readers’ opinions or adding unnecessary formalities trimming readers’ freedom of expression. Shrinking space for letters to the editor and op-ed essays is not compatible with the age of the computer and Internet.

The most important difference between print and other media is that of readership. Only the print media has a readership. The audience of electronic media is sometimes compared with it, but the audience of a channel is more volatile than the readership of a newspaper, as a viewer can switch to another channel anytime. Sufficient space for feedback from its readers gives a newspaper an advantage over other media.

A newspaper should give enough freedom of expression to its readers as long as common norms of decency are followed by them. Minimum formalities for printing a piece of writing can do good to newspapers or magazines in these times of speed. While the social and electronic media can transmit comments from its audience instantly, the print media can print a thorough analysis or opinion from its readers on its op-ed pages, which is, obviously, an advantage over the other media.

ASHRAF NAUSHAHI

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