Ding ding ding, the bell has rung, and the boxing debate begins – round one. The referee steps into the ring and sets the stage for today’s match with the rules. No physical punches, only verbal blows, however, none below the belt. With thunderous applause, the contestants come in equipped and ready with their gloves of experience on. It’s old versus new, traditional versus virtual. The support of the crowd leans toward traditional media; the tangibility and enticement of the senses brought by print media backing their support (let it me know that the majority of the crowd are Baby Boomers or generation X-ers). As the debate continues, each argument given by the traditional media contestants is followed by nods in the crowd, coupled with the nostalgic shimmer in their eyes. The victory belt of the past lies with traditional media in that it is backed up by credibility and trust established over the years. So whether physically printed of published online, the veracity and trust resonates there too.
Round two – new media takes the ring by storm, and it is no feather weight against the already weighty traditional media. The digital movement taking place in the world reinforces the argument on the side of new media because the veracity and credibility of the traditional media publications continues when carried over into the digital realm. The business model of traditional media to sell paper-based publications is destined to crash by 2020 when the last of the baby boomers have “moved on”. The evolution of the media has moved to the virtual, and the future of the press will inevitably follow. Where traditional media fought with new media about the quality and tangibility of their publications, new media has used their strength against them by contending how they will not only continue with such quality, but rather, better it. The gloves are off!
Who will win this match? In the end, the gloves should come off not to exacerbate the fight, but for old to unite with new. If the debate could end with unity, the media as a whole will be more powerful than ever.