Newspapers - a chapter for history books?

Newspaper readership and subscribers are on the decline replaced with the internet as the primary source of information.  Newspaper providers are going out of business or reducing circulation as readership and advertising dollars decline.  Readership by older generations (the highest loyalty to newspaper) is on the decline replaced by a younger generation who have different reading habits.  Younger generations prefer instant information available 24/7.  The internet provides real-time information whereas newspaper is only current to what information was available at time of press.  On-line newspapers, although not profitable, are successful because they are updated as news becomes available. 

Unlike radio or television which blurt a message and then the information is gone, newspapers give the reader a chance to absorb the information and details as they read.  Print material gives you the option to reread, comprehend, and reflect on what you have read.  However, newspapers are expensive to print and create much waste for landfills if not recycled.  Most information on the internet is free and doesn’t create the waste unless you choose to print. 

Reflecting to my own metro area, once a city of two newspapers, there have been noticeable changes over the years.  The size of the newspaper has changed.  Not only are there less pages, but the page itself is smaller.  One of the most remarkable changes is the help wanted classified section.  I can recall when this section was pages and pages and the Sunday paper was the edition to pick up if you were on a job search.  Today, this section is a few pages at best.  Job seekers now turn to the internet to search and in seconds with a keyword can pull up multiple job listings.

Will there always be a target market for a physical newspaper?  My main need to purchase the newspaper just for the coupons is going the way of the past as now I can print coupons from the internet.  Had someone told me 10 years ago that in 2011 my household would not have a landline house phone, I would have thought it would not be possible.  My great grandchildren only reading about newspapers in history books – not such a farfetched idea to me anymore these days.