Those of us who write know that writing is dying. Others know it too, but for those of us who chose this course as a career (in fact, were more likely compelled down this path because writing was so inherent to our nature), the slow decline of reading (and its implication for smaller and smaller markets for writers) deeply saddens us.
Sure, there are new niche markets, from self-publishing books, to seldom read magazines, like the National Cardboard Egg Manufacturers Journal, but that is not enough to sustain our creative juices. We watch the world edge towards video, gobbling up images in YouTube, Instagram and Twitter, as words seem to become less and less relevant.
As a society, we lose an element of thoughtfulness and curiosity as we read less. Instead of digging more deeply into a subject, we scan something. We don’t think. This holds bad implications in a Democracy or any society that must rely on a social compact between human beings (hmmm, sounds like any country, to me).
This decline of the published written word has been gradual and steep. I think the first time I understood the nature of this change was in the early 1980s, as large, national news magazines disappeared or shrunk. Life agazine went away. Time and Newsweek magazines began experiencing consistent declines in circulation.
Today, I wonder if our three kids EVER read a magazine. I guess if they fly somewhere, they might pick one up at the airport. But otherwise? NAH, I don’t think so. They’re on their smart phones.
And, quite simply, that’s the next generation market. After those of us who are probably 40+ in age pass away (or a few years older or younger depending on how you’ve been raised and what type of dinosaur clan you belong to), there won’t be too many people left who’ve grown up concentrating and reading novels, biographies, complex policy journals or lengthy news articles. They’re reading snippets, 140 characters and captions to pictures.
As general news magazines went away, market forces fragmented as people who held very specialized interests saw the proliferation of publications catering to their choice of the day. Whether it was backpacking, computers, knitting or international travel, magazines began to cover these issues more intently.
This was growth, yes, but for the writer, because of segmentation, the ability to cobble together a decent paying career decreased. Our already low paying professional livelihood was further devalued.
Ad revenue goes down. Publications try to increase profits using pay-per-click and online exposure. As the decline continues, salaries and jobs are cut. News enterprises must economize to survive. We all make do with less. We become another example of the hollowing middle class.
In high school, we held career days, where a local leader came to speak with us about our future choices. I remember intently the core message from our local Kankakee Daily Journal Editor, who said not to go into journalism because it didn’t pay. Though my career has been fun, steady, enriching and generally well-compensated, he was right. For the most part, writers don’t get paid. We struggle. We seek new markets and ways to use our skills in other types of jobs that compensate better.
Writing is a skill. It’s hugely valuable to persuade people, convince them of the validity of a point. But that takes a populace willing to read, pay attention, respond and join a discourse.
My fear increases as the desire to read decreases daily. And I fear what that means for our country and our institutions in the years ahead. For those of us who write, we’ll keep after it. Will anyone be reading?
Sure, there are new niche markets, from self-publishing books, to seldom read magazines, like the National Cardboard Egg Manufacturers Journal, but that is not enough to sustain our creative juices. We watch the world edge towards video, gobbling up images in YouTube, Instagram and Twitter, as words seem to become less and less relevant.
As a society, we lose an element of thoughtfulness and curiosity as we read less. Instead of digging more deeply into a subject, we scan something. We don’t think. This holds bad implications in a Democracy or any society that must rely on a social compact between human beings (hmmm, sounds like any country, to me).
This decline of the published written word has been gradual and steep. I think the first time I understood the nature of this change was in the early 1980s, as large, national news magazines disappeared or shrunk. Life agazine went away. Time and Newsweek magazines began experiencing consistent declines in circulation.
Today, I wonder if our three kids EVER read a magazine. I guess if they fly somewhere, they might pick one up at the airport. But otherwise? NAH, I don’t think so. They’re on their smart phones.
And, quite simply, that’s the next generation market. After those of us who are probably 40+ in age pass away (or a few years older or younger depending on how you’ve been raised and what type of dinosaur clan you belong to), there won’t be too many people left who’ve grown up concentrating and reading novels, biographies, complex policy journals or lengthy news articles. They’re reading snippets, 140 characters and captions to pictures.
As general news magazines went away, market forces fragmented as people who held very specialized interests saw the proliferation of publications catering to their choice of the day. Whether it was backpacking, computers, knitting or international travel, magazines began to cover these issues more intently.
This was growth, yes, but for the writer, because of segmentation, the ability to cobble together a decent paying career decreased. Our already low paying professional livelihood was further devalued.
Ad revenue goes down. Publications try to increase profits using pay-per-click and online exposure. As the decline continues, salaries and jobs are cut. News enterprises must economize to survive. We all make do with less. We become another example of the hollowing middle class.
In high school, we held career days, where a local leader came to speak with us about our future choices. I remember intently the core message from our local Kankakee Daily Journal Editor, who said not to go into journalism because it didn’t pay. Though my career has been fun, steady, enriching and generally well-compensated, he was right. For the most part, writers don’t get paid. We struggle. We seek new markets and ways to use our skills in other types of jobs that compensate better.
Writing is a skill. It’s hugely valuable to persuade people, convince them of the validity of a point. But that takes a populace willing to read, pay attention, respond and join a discourse.
My fear increases as the desire to read decreases daily. And I fear what that means for our country and our institutions in the years ahead. For those of us who write, we’ll keep after it. Will anyone be reading?
