Each morning, Richard “Dick” Ferguson begins his day the same way — reading the newspaper. His chosen publication, the Athens Banner-Herald, delivers its printed copies Wednesday through Sunday mornings. 

“I have subscribed to the paper as long as I can remember,” said Ferguson, an Athens resident of 55 years. “I can’t imagine a world without print newspapers. As long as they have it, I will subscribe.”

While many longtime Athens residents like Ferguson still financially support local print media, national trends show this is not the case overall.

A Pew Research Center study shows that in 2024, only 9% of U.S. adults said they preferred print newspapers for local news and information, while 48% preferred news websites or social media. A 2022 U.S. Census Bureau survey estimated newspaper publisher’s revenue dropped 52% from 2002.

Impact on Local News Outlets

This national decline translates locally, as subscribers have seen an increase in the cost of their print delivery subscription. Today, the Athens Banner-Herald charges $35 per month for the Wednesday-Sunday delivery. In light of the loss of subscribers, they are now offering a subscription package charging only $15 for two months before the price increases to the regular rate for the remainder of the year.

 Why It’s Newsworthy: National trends show a sharp decline in the use of print media, which affects the financial viability of local news outlets. Digital news is becoming increasingly popular in Athens, especially with younger generations. 

Alicia Nickels, publisher and advertising director of Flagpole Magazine, another Athens news publication, said one way to combat this decline is by keeping their publication free for its readers.

“The cost of printing is on the rise, and website expenses are too,” Nickels said. “Readers of print need to be educated about the process of running a print publication and the costs associated with it.”

Costs, Environmental Issues Concern Readers

While cost is a factor in the decrease in demand for print media, environmental concerns also contribute to the shift toward digital news.

Sean Groarke, an ecology student at the University of Georgia, said he prefers reading news on websites and through social media instead of print.

“I care about the environment,” said Groarke, explaining his reluctance in supporting single-use paper. “I don’t read any printed newspapers at all.”

The difference in news consumption between digital and print is heavily affected by generational differences. While reports show that older generations have a higher rate of consuming print media, younger generations that grew up in a digital age stick with online news.

The 2019 Reuters Institute Digital News Report stated that the smartphone is the primary device used for consuming news for 69% of people under 35. Consuming news through videos and podcasts is also rising in popularity for younger generations. The report notes that 15% of respondents ages 18-24 are more likely to watch online videos for news compared to reading text articles. 

Changes with Generational Differences

“The younger the circulation base, the more newspapers will go digital,” said Loran Smith, a freelance columnist who writes for the Athens Banner-Herald.  Smith, who has written for this publication since 1959 when he was a student at UGA, remembers when print news was the only format published.

“Back when I started, digital had never been heard of,” he said.

Smith emphasized the value he finds in writing and reading news in the print format that people can’t get from consuming digital news.

“As an old-time newspaper alumnus, I still appreciate seeing something that I have worked on, an in-depth story, for example, appear in print," Smith said. "I still clip a few things from time to time.” 

Like Ferguson, reading the morning newspaper is part of his weekly routine. Whether it is the Athens Banner-Herald or the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Smith considers “one of the great joys of [his] life” as reading the paper “on [his] screened in porch in spring and summer and by [his] fireplace in the fall and winter.” 

News publications like the Athens Banner-Herald, founded in 1832, and Flagpole Magazine, founded in 1987, are local landmarks in Athens. While they have increased the digital output to follow consumer trends, print publications remain an important part of their identity.

As important as digital news is to the younger generations of consumers, Smith hopes print journalism will stay relevant.

“I’ll go digital kicking and screaming,” he said.

Harper Covington is a fourth-year student majoring in journalism.