COMMENTARY | The Christian Science Monitor reports that Encyclopedia Britannica has ended print publishing for good, and all content is now going to be available through digital publishing only. Encyclopedia Britannica going digital is just one telling sign about the state of printed books and media, and it is going to impact many different people, including students.
Students will be the hardest group of people hit by this news, since students use Encyclopedia Britannica books often, especially during book reports. Although going all digital is a great way to keep up with the technological advances, it is going to harm younger school-aged children, since they might not have access to digital technology. There are a lot of students that do not have access to computers, iPads, and other devices that support digital content, so it is going to be harder for some parents to find resources for their children. I think that the younger school children will have the hardest time with the digital only format, because it is more challenging to teach younger children how to use computers and iPads. This news also puts more pressure on parents, since parents will now basically have to purchase a computer, iPad or other device to support Encyclopedia Britannica content in a digital format, and that is an expensive purchase in this economy.
The fact that Encyclopedia Britannica is also going digital really shows the state of print media, which is not looking great. More newspapers, books, and magazines are opting to pursue online libraries compared to print media, which I think means print publishing is on the way out. I believe that within the next 10 years, there are not going to be many print publishers left, except maybe for huge authors like Stephen King. The fact of the matter is, people are on the go so much, and rely so heavily on their smartphones or laptops to communicate, that print publishing is not going to be able to keep up. The economy has also made it difficult for print publishing to continue, since it is not as profitable as it once was, and sometimes costs more to publish than what can be made in profits. The Encyclopedia Britannica printed editions are less than 1 percent of the Encyclopedia Britannica’s total revenue, and this is likely to be similar to other print publishing companies.
I am always researching topics for various aspects of my life, and have been using online resources ever since I was 13, and I think more people are going this route as well. With so many online resources like Wikipedia, Amazon, and Webster’s, there is less demand for print media, and it is just becoming obsolete, even in schools. This news really makes me sad because having a hard copy of a book is just so comforting, but with the advances in technology, we now have information at our fingertips like never before.
Myself, Personal Opinion
Husna Haq, “Encyclopedia Britannica puts an end to print publishing”, The Christian Science Monitor
