Print Media Vs Digital Media

What is Print Media? Or Definition of Print Media –

Print Media is a means of mass communication where information is passed on in the printed form. Print Media uses Print Technology where papers are printed with the help of Ink in a printing press. Print Media is one of the oldest forms of media and has more reach. Print Media includes Newspapers, Magazines, Books, posters, billboards, transit posters, flyer etc. Print Media is useful for those who can read. Print Media provides information in printed form only. Print Media has access to remote areas where there is no internet facility. Print Media contains detailed analysis and reporting of any information. The information which a reader receives through Print Media makes a long-lasting impact on the readers.

What is Digital or Electronic Media? Or Definition of Digital or Electronic Media –

Digital or electronic media is also the medium of mass communication but in digital form like TV, radio, internet. Digital or electronic media is shared on electronic devices such as smartphones, PCs, laptops, tablets, TVs, radios. Digital or electronic media can be used by anyone whether he knows how to read or not. Digital or electronic media provides information in digital print, audio and video forms so that users can choose as per their convenience. Digital or Electronic Media can send information in no time to a wider audience.

Key Differences between Electronic/Digital Media and Print Media:

Both Print Media and Digital or Electronic Media have their own basis and importance. Both media have their own advantages and disadvantages. It will always be hard to say which is better. It mainly depends on the end-user what they like? So, here we will go through some of the major differences between the two media –

1. The Credibility: Whatever media we use must possess credibility cause without credibility information is of no use. In this area, Print Media is many steps ahead of Digital or Electronic Media. Whatever information is printed goes through a tight process of reevaluation and source check cause once it is printed it can’t be undone whereas Digital or Electronic Media is home to fake news cause it's hard to find the source of the news. There are tons of fake news that can be found on digital media. That’s the reason Print Media has more credibility compared to Digital or Electronic Media.

2. Reading or Viewing Experience:  Print Media is a kind of distraction-free cause when readers read any form of Print Media, they just read it they don’t do anything else. But when a reader or viewer uses Digital or Electronic Media using their Smartphones or TV, then there are so many distractions comes along like advertisement, notification of mail, chat, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp etc. and while watching the news on Television whenever an advertisement hit the screen, we just change the new channel. If a reader doesn’t know how to read then they can’t understand what is written so to use printed media user or reader should be educated or at least know how to read. But to access the Digital or Electronic Media reader or viewer can access audio or video forms of information or news in case they don’t know how to read.

3. Live Discussion: When a reader reads printed information and they want to discuss it with others then most of the time it's not possible but whereas when a readers or viewer get the information from digital media and if they want to discuss it with others then digital media gives freedom to its user to discuss it at the same time. Print Media doesn’t facilitate its readers with live discussion whereas Digital or Electronic Media does.

4. Updating the Information: There is no option of updating the information in Print Media cause once any news or information collected and printed then afterwards it is not possible to updated that information but in Digital or Electronic Media information or news can be updated any time.

5. Availability: Printed Media has a limitation it can’t be available 24x7. The availability is different for every form of printed media such as Newspapers can be available daily whether it's the evening or morning, Magazines are available weekly or monthly. Whereas Digital or Electronic Media available 24x7 for example various news channels and their websites. Print Media takes time to provide information to its user whereas Digital or Electronic Media provides information within few moments of a story happened.

6. Deadline: Print Media works on a deadline or time limit for the collection of news or information because it has scheduled time for printing. But Digital or Electronic Media doesn’t have this kind of limitation of time cause news or information can be published or updated at any time.

7. Long-Lasting Effect: Printed Media has a long-lasting impact on the reader's mind and helps the readers to absorb more information whereas Digital or Electronic Media hasn’t had a long-lasting impact on the user due to too many ads and there is plenty of other useless information.

8. Advertisement: When an advertisement is printed in newspaper or Magazines then there are more chances that it reaches the consumers because there is a limitation of printing in print media due to less space and there is a strict process too. But in Digital or Electronic Media there is no limitation of giving an advertisement. There are multiple advertisements at the same time so it’s less likely to reach the consumer. Most of the reader or users never click on an advertisement because they don’t know where it will take them and there is no filter on the advertisement. Digital or Electronic Media Platforms sometimes shows inappropriate content in the name of the advertisement.

Conclusion:

Both Print Media and Digital or Electronic Media have their own advantage or disadvantage. Both the medium of Mass Communication makes people aware of their surroundings, crimes and misconducts happening in the society and keeps updated people about various government schemes. In my opinion, a reader and a viewer need both the medium of mass communication that is Print Media and Digital or Electronic Media because it's not Print Media Vs Digital or Electronic Media, it's Print Media + Digital or Electronic Media.