With smartphones in every hand, news consumption in the Valley has gone digital. While print media faces significant challenges, it still retains its readership through newspapers.
By Sualiha Zubair
In Srinagar’s bustling streets, where tradition meets the winds of change, a silent revolution is underway. The beloved ritual of reading the morning newspaper is fading, replaced by the tap of a smartphone screen. Once a lifeline for news and livelihoods, Kashmir’s print media struggles to survive as the digital wave reshapes how people consume information. From dwindling sales to digital-first adaptations, this transformation reflects a global shift—one that has left an indelible mark on the region’s traditions and its people.
Once a vital part of the region’s daily routine, newspapers are now struggling to survive in a rapidly changing media landscape. Riyaz Ahmed, a former newspaper vendor, knows this reality all too well. Ahmed was in his early 20s when he first started distributing newspapers in the Soura area of Srinagar. He used to wake up at dawn, braving the cold mornings of Kashmir to deliver stacks of newspapers across the area. The job demanded hard work but provided him with a steady livelihood. “Back in 2008, I used to deliver around 600 newspapers daily, but by 2024, that number dropped to just 100,” says Ahmed. After 16 years in the business, he was forced to seek an alternative career and joined an advertising agency earlier this year. “People looked forward to their morning paper,” he recalls adding that today hardly anyone wants a newspaper. “The business is gone.”
Ahmed is just one of many who have witnessed the steady decline of newspaper readership in Kashmir, a trend that is not unique to the region but part of a larger global shift in media consumption.
The Digital Takeover
The digital revolution has dramatically altered how people consume news, and Valley is no exception. With smartphones in the hands of nearly every person in the region, news is now more accessible than ever. This shift in the preferences of consumers has put immense pressure on traditional newspapers. While some adapted by establishing an online presence, those newspapers who failed to adapt had to shut down their business.
Presently, all the leading local newspapers and press agencies have their websites where they upload e-papers and news every morning. They also have a strong digital presence on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Burhan Ali, 23, a university student agrees that digital media is overshadowing the traditional print medium. “Online news is just more convenient. I no longer feel the need to buy a newspaper from the market because I can be anywhere and have access to different sources of news through my mobile phone,” he says. Ali adds that unlike newspapers, digitally your news gets updated time to time which is yet another advantage. “We get news on X (formerly Twitter) way before any other medium, these could be reasons behind decline of newspaper readership,” Ali quotes.
The COVID-19 Catalyst
If the digital revolution wasn’t enough to dampen newspaper circulation, the COVID-19 pandemic was the final blow. With social distancing measures in place, and an overall sense of caution about physical contact, many people stopped receiving newspapers altogether. The fear of the virus being spread through newspapers, further exacerbates the crisis. According to the Indian Readership Survey for the fourth quarter of 2019, newspapers experienced a consistent decline in readership, with prominent publications like Dainik Jagran, Hindustan, and Amar Ujala suffering significant losses. The Indian Newspaper Society also estimated losses between $545 million and $681 million during March and April 2020 alone. However, readership figures began to stabilize as the pandemic progressed. These trends were also reflected in Kashmir.
“The pandemic made people wary of physical things. Newspapers, which are passed from one person to another, were seen as a potential source of infection,” says Shazia Feroz, a housewife from Hawal. She had been a longtime subscriber who canceled her daily newspaper during the lockdown. “I switched to reading news online, and once I got used to it, I never returned to print,” concludes Feroz.
Tackling the Challenges
Social media platforms have not yet completely replaced traditional newspaper reading. However, digital platforms have significantly transformed how people consume news. Previously, newspapers were predominantly read in printed form, but today, most readers prefer electronic formats. This shift has led nearly all newspaper organizations to offer e-newspaper subscriptions.
In our fast-paced world, e-newspapers provide a convenient solution, enabling readers to stay informed without carrying physical copies. Accessible through smartphones, tablets, or computers, they reflect the evolving habits of modern news consumers and the adaptability of traditional media in the digital age.
The Future of Newspapers
The fall in readership indirectly and directly meant the loss of livelihoods for countless vendors, journalists, and press workers. “When fewer people buy newspapers, the demand for distribution shrinks. Many vendors like me have had to find other ways to earn a living,” adds Ahmed. This shift has also affected the employees at printing presses, who find themselves out of work as local publications cease operations due to dwindling revenue.
Despite the challenges facing print media in Kashmir and other parts of the world, India’s newspaper industry remains one of the largest in the world. According to the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) 2023, over 400 million people in India still read newspapers daily, making it the largest news medium in the country. This statistic provides some hope for the future of print media, even as digital consumption continues to rise. Some research on the topic also suggests that the newspaper industry may experience a resurgence, especially as more people experience “digital fatigue” and long for the credibility and depth that print journalism provides.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of this Magazine. The author can be reached at [email protected]
Blurb
Despite the challenges facing print media in Kashmir and other parts of the world, India’s newspaper industry remains one of the largest in the world. According to the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) 2023, over 400 million people in India still read newspapers daily, making it the largest news medium in the country.
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