Al Bilad newspaper The future of print journalism.. Where to in light of technological development? – 2024-02-27 22:58:53

With the spread of technology and artificial intelligence applications, the result of which is digital media, paper newspapers and publications have been greatly affected by this development, with some believing that there will not be a single paper publication during the next few years. While others believe that we can take advantage of technological progress and digital transformation to consolidate traditional reading habits. Is traditional media giving way to digital, and is the future of print journalism where is it? Are there solutions to maintain reading and book buying habits?

In this investigation, we tried to investigate the answer and monitor points of view from various minds and parties concerned with this interesting topic.

Love of paper

Bahraini writer and author, Dr. Khawla Fouad Ali, emphasized that the reluctance to read and write is not a result of this for a specific year or decade, as we were facing this… Decline and reluctance since the 1980s and 1990s. The real gap appeared with the spread of technology and the Internet, which led to a decline and reluctance to read and write on paper, although there are still youthful energies now trying to break this reluctance by publishing their writings in the form of books and promoting them.

She added: “The Internet and technology boom had a prominent role. When their use increased, the use of paper books decreased and the writing of books decreased, and since we have begun to see this clearly in the two-thousand generation, which is the most affected generation, the reluctance does not return to this boom only. The love of reading and writing, if not… It has been paid attention to since childhood, as it may be a reason for reluctance in adulthood. As a writer, I grew up in a house that loved paper and preferred paper books to audio books. Therefore, education played a prominent role in my life in developing a love of knowledge and reading in myself. Reading and writing were and still are a sacred matter, as they are a symbol of culture and learning. Its special character that distinguishes it.”

While some people believe that the time of ink and paper has ended, writer and author Dr. Khawla Ali denied this, saying: “I actually thought that the time of ink and paper had ended, but after I published my book “The Curriculum That Is Not Studyed,” I was very surprised that there is a group that still loves the book. “On paper, I insisted on publishing this book because paper has its own value and gives more value to the written book and to the writer as well. The time of ink and time has not ended, but the problem is what is written on ink and paper.”

She added: “There is a problem with what is written, as a large part of what is written is not in line with the thought of the current generation, its way of thinking, and the way it learns and receives, especially since the current generation is not in line with the traditional way in which our generation lived in the last century, so we now need new methodologies that can do this.” The methodologies are to translate speech quickly and simply through audio and visual channels and social media.

She pointed out that paper still exists, but what is written on paper must be in a specific style to attract the attention of the current generation, and this does not mean that the current generation is simple, as it is an educated generation, and its level of intelligence can be higher than previous generations, as it carefully selects the information it wants, so It is important that we communicate the required ideas to them in the style they like, in order to revive the paper writings.

She stressed that we must revive paper reading among young people, as reading and writing are what distinguishes thought, saying: “We all study the same curricula and see social media, but what distinguishes each individual is his ideas, which do not arise or crystallize except through reading, as the latter distinguishes a person from others.” Others make him different. Today, it is not a requirement for a person to read in the same field as his specialty. Reading is in all fields. If the individual aspires to change, he must be distinguished, and reading in all fields will help enrich information.”

trusted source

For her part, article writer and media personality Hanan Ali Al-Khalfan stressed that print journalism still plays a vital role in shaping viewpoints and conveying… Accurate and reliable information is still considered an essential means of communication and social interaction. Al-Khalfan believes that news in print newspapers still has an important role. Paper journalism provides a space for covering events in depth and analyzing them in detail. It also helps in monitoring important issues and confronting corruption. It also provides a platform For public dialogue and enhance interaction between members of society and collective awareness. Paper newspapers provide accurate and reliable information, which contributes to directing viewpoints and making the right decisions. Thanks to the time and effort invested in investigations and reports, the paper newspaper can provide in-depth analyzes of events and issues, which contributes to directing public opinion and guiding Attention, it also provides a platform for public dialogues and discussions and encourages citizens to participate effectively in society.

In the same context, Al-Khalfan said: “The most prominent elements of writing, such as investigation, scrutiny, analysis, and details, which print journalists possess, are the ability to provide them, explore issues more deeply, and clarify the consequences and potential impacts on society, as well as personal stories by presenting stories to powerful and influential figures. By highlighting the experiences of individuals, it is possible to create an emotional impact and strong communication with readers. Print journalism can also master the good, attractive design and layout of the newspaper, while using graphics and images effectively to add appeal to the content. All of these are elements that contribute to reviving the spirit of print journalism, in addition to diversity. In topics and boldness in coverage by presenting bold and different reports that address hot issues with courage and objectivity, and searching for the truth from them before publishing them to ensure reliable content and taking into account diversity and inclusivity in its coverage of news and topics and reflecting different points of view, cultural morals and social diversity, it will attract a diverse audience with a focus on quality and Quantity.

In the same regard, the media personality Al-Khalfan touched on the most prominent modern technologies through which we can exploit the development of technology in the process of improving paper reading, especially since there are some technical developments that contribute to improving paper reading through modern innovations such as smart pens that allow readers to record notes directly and save them in digital form. Some of them allow converting handwriting into editable texts, in addition to advanced printing techniques that allow the production of high-quality books, such as UV printing to obtain clear, sharp images and texts on paper. Scanable codes (QR CODES) can also be used in paper books to provide links. To additional online content such as video clips, sounds, interactive materials, and more information that enhances understanding of the content, it is scanned using a smartphone or reading device. Animation and interactive techniques also allow adding an element of fun and excitement to paper books, especially picture books and children’s books, and visual coding techniques such as (RFID) in paper books to facilitate the identification and management of books. These technologies can record information about the book such as the title, author, and classification, thus facilitating search, review, and classification processes.

Mobile competition

In addition, the owner of the National Library, Farouk Obaid, believes that the presence of the mobile device has a major impact on publications, whether books or the press, especially since this The device contains full information in various branches of knowledge, so it has become a strong competitor to books. Despite this, Obaid stresses that it is possible to consolidate reading and encourage it by holding international and local exhibitions, which would encourage the demand for reading, pointing out that libraries in general It needs the support of the concerned authorities in the Kingdom of Bahrain, such as the Ministry of Information and the Culture Authority, in order to continue to fulfill its mission, by purchasing books, especially the works of Bahraini writers. The Ministry of Education libraries should also provide libraries with new publications that are sold in local libraries.

Regarding the role of the family, Farouk Obaid finds that it is possible to activate this role more through the family visiting public and local libraries periodically with their children, urging them to visit them, and encouraging them to visit international exhibitions.

Escape to paper

As for the writer and narrator of “Memory Shop” and “Orchid” – the best-selling novel in Bahrain – Hawraa Al-Haddad, who fully believes that writing is always a weapon for those who have new ideas and are looking to publish books where they can translate these ideas into an acceptable literary framework.

Al-Haddad does not believe that there is a reluctance to writing or reading paper, saying: “It is not a reluctance, but rather a lack of interest, perhaps for writing or reluctance to read, but I think that most people still prefer paper books even in our current era,” noting that she is the author of two novels, the last of which was published in In the year 2023, I stated that the reluctance to write paper is due to the writer, which may be due to the lack of financial returns on the one hand, and on the other hand, the difficulties of publishing and dissemination compared to the effort made by the writer.”

While some people believe that the time of ink and paper has ended, Hawraa Al-Haddad confirmed that this is not true. Today, the world and people are escaping from electronic screens and social media. What we see today is the opposite, as people are escaping from screens to paper.

She stressed that paper represents a guarantee against updates and electronic blocking, so it is still the only space for free ideas, noting that society today must encourage reading and writing, and encouragement begins at home with a small library, pointing out that some homes lack this library, as the Internet has become controlling Life even though it was only yesterday until her memory became weak, saying: “I fear that a day will come when we will be like those who have not learned, due to our complete dependence on search tools, including Google.”

Media system

In the same regard, Afnan Abdel Aziz, a student of the Master’s in Media and Public Relations at Al-Ahliyya University, confirmed that the news in print newspapers is still… It has a role in shaping society’s point of view and conveying information. Print journalism is not limited to publishing news only, but rather provides in-depth analyzes and clarifications of important events and issues. Print newspapers are considered a reliable source based on professional standards and journalistic ethics, and strive to convey facts and information in an objective and balanced manner.

She pointed out that print newspapers are also considered an effective means of delivering information to the public, as readers can access news and analyzes at any time and without the need to connect to the Internet, which enhances communication and interaction among society and contributes to shaping viewpoints and public opinion.

Moreover, Abdel Aziz said: “Paper newspapers are a reference for archives and research, as people can return to them at any time to view previous information and track developments over time, and therefore the print press still plays a vital role in shaping society’s point of view and transmitting information.” “This makes it an essential part of the media and democratic system.”

Afnan Abdel Aziz believes that one of the most effective ways to establish the habit of reading from printed books lies in embodying creativity in this aspect by organizing reading competitions in schools and local communities, where a selected list of books is determined and individuals are encouraged to read and discuss them. It is also possible to establish a community library that allows people Exchanging books and enhancing communication between them. In addition, small reading groups can be formed and a schedule of periodic meetings can be set to discuss the selected books. Adding interactive and creative elements to the reading experience is considered an exciting matter, such as creating online magazines or blogs to discuss books and share opinions and experiences, and to provide a suitable environment for reading. Public spaces in parks or public gardens can be allocated to hold reading events, with books and comfortable chairs provided for people to enjoy reading in the open air, noting that by adopting these creative ideas, reading from printed books can be encouraged and this valuable habit established in society.

On a related level, Abdulaziz said that technology can be used to make reading interactive and interesting, by adding interactive links in paper books to direct readers to additional online resources or providing interactive games and exercises that help better understand the content and enhance learning. Technology can also be used to link Paper books with relevant digital content, such as video clips or recorded lectures, to enhance understanding and comprehension, in addition to improving the format of printed paper books using advanced technology, improving the quality of images and graphics and providing a more comfortable and attractive reading experience. Therefore, it can be said that exploiting technology to improve paper reading can enhance access to knowledge and stimulate reading in new and exciting ways.

Home library

In the same regard, the head of the “We All Read” association, Amina Al-Ruwai’i, stressed that the presence of a library in the home in itself creates a reader in a person, as reading constitutes… The child’s identity, as the sight of a library in the home and the presence of a mother and father who are readers would activate the child’s curiosity and desire to acquire books and then read.

Al-Ruwaie pointed out that we must maintain this, as we have a debate about the trend towards e-books for easy access to them, but we must be fully aware that e-reading screens harm the eyes and health in the long run, will not be comfortable for humans, and may pose health risks to them.

Al-Ruwaie wondered: What if we lost technology and the Internet?! Then we will not have an archive to preserve information, while with the presence of paper and printed books, there is the ability to preserve written texts and information easily and conveniently. Accordingly, we find that a large group of readers prefer paper newspapers, and keep paper news clippings, so the feeling of reading printed news is completely different. About reading it via message or podcast.

Al-Ruwai’i continued: “In addition to the fact that the e-book is annoying to the eye, it distracts thoughts, and the lack of supervision for reading e-books may reach the reader’s hand with books that are not appropriate for their ages, making them reluctant to read, especially children. Supervision of the reading process by the mother and father is very important,” she noted. It does not object to development. We do not object to the intellectual development of children, but we are against it reaching the point of sanctifying violence, for example, as a result of the lack of adequate oversight. Choosing the type of books for children that stimulate their imagination and carry moral and moral values ​​will help in raising and shaping the child, which will make him a future. He feels the importance of returning to the printed book.”