Online News Displaces Print Newspaper: Media Students' Preferences and Perceptions

Abstract

This study extends the uses and gratifications theory to explore the uses of general, time, daily, and weekly news. It also applies the theory of media displacement to investigate the ease, preference, emergency use, credibility perception, and confidence in forming opinions for news from print newspapers and online sources. A survey with 244 students from communication and media disciplines in Lahore's universities revealed that 68% of media students read news for only 30 minutes daily. 65% preferred daily updates and found it easier to access news online (62%). During emergencies, 79% relied on online news, but only 52% considered it authentic. Despite concerns about tree wastage, 67% favoured free access to online news, with only 33% willing to purchase print newspapers. This study supports the media displacement hypothesis, suggesting that online news is displacing print newspapers due to affordability, posing significant implications for newspaper management.