The Death of Print

When I first came to BYU, I had my heart set on being a Print Journalism major. I was going to blast through school, become a famous reporter, and change the world. After a semester in the program, I learned two things that changed how I felt about my intended career path:

1) I don't like being a reporter

2) Print journalism was dying

I was horrified by the thought of traditional newspapers becoming extinct. The fact that I didn't really want to work for one anymore took the sting off, but being sentimental and somewhat idealistic, I thought of the amazing history of newspapers with remorse. From the romanticized history found in stories such as

  The Newsies

To the heavy-hitting, historical exposes like the Watergate Scandal 

It seemed like such a tragedy to lose such an important part of our history and culture to the all-consuming beast of market demands. Sure, online newspapers are significantly more efficient, waste-free, cost-effective, and convenient, but what about tradition. That being said, I must admit that I have never subscribed to a newspaper in my life, and actively avoid the junior high children that go door-to-door in our community hawking them. But the loss still hurts a little.

Well, so what?

I'll tell you what. After abandoning my hopes for a Pulitzer, my interests evolved into literature and editing and publishing. Seemed like a safe bet, yes? The most beloved form of past-time in the last 150 years, cherished generation after generation? Yeah, that's job security, my friend.

Then a couple years later, I heard about a thing called a Kindle, and thought, "Who would want that? Sounds expensive." Four years and one Kindle later, I became a convert. They're just so dang easy. Instead of taking 15 books on a road trip to appease my ADD, I now just take my tiny little Kindle and I suddenly have a book for any possible mood I'm in, and it takes up hardly any space. Not to mention that e-books are on average $5-$10 cheaper than their printed counterparts.

Now, just as I begin basking in my new e-book freedom, something catches my eye. It's my bookshelf, packed to bursting point with all my dog-eared favorites of days past. I get sentimental again. I remember how it felt to pick out a new book, the ease with which I flipped through it if I needed to go back and read something, and the comfort of knowing that if I step on it, I will still be able to read it.

In order to compromise my guilt and my need for excellent deals, I typically only buy books on my Kindle that I a) don't think are worth buying in real life, but I'm curious, and b) I don't want to buy in hard back but I want to read right away. But what about everyone else? Has the lure of e-books, with their shiny new features, touch screens, and interactive options, encouraged people to forsake their roots and favorite paperbacks?

Is print publishing...
                                                dying?

If so, then that is unfortunate timing for me, who seems to be jumping from one sinking ship to another. But my employment future aside, what does that mean for literature, more specifically the novel?

In order to explore this question further, I have designed this blog to look first at the history of the novel, then  I will conduct an experiment regarding the newer publication styles, and finally will discuss where the novel is heading and what it could mean for all of us. But first, I want to hear what you have to say! Is print publishing on its way out? Are e-readers the superior way to engage with literature? What has your experience been? Do you think this debate is stupid? Do you think this blog is stupid? Let me know down below in the Comments section and see some other opinions. Then, take the plunge into theory with The History of the Novel.