The invention of computers in the 20th century has greatly changed the way newspapers are made. Today, reporters can save time by sending the main facts of their stories by e-mail . Editors can easily make corrections with spell checkers. Articles are shuffled from one page to another, and colour graphics and pictures make newspapers more attractive.

However, newspapers are facing huge challenges in today's world. Increasing costs of publishing have driven many newspapers out of business. In addition, income from ads is falling because newspapers must share the advertising market with television, the internet and other media.

Reading habits have also changed. Younger readers are not attracted to newspapers as strongly as previous generations. Many people subscribe to online editions, where they get news quicker. There is also increased competition from blogs and social media.

Online edition of the State magazine
Image : State Magazine, published by the United States Department of State,
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons


Words

  • attractive = here : interesting to read
  • century = a period of a hundred years
  • challenges = difficult things, problems that come up
  • competition = when companies try to be more successful than others
  • editor = person who is the boss of a newspaper and decides what should be printed
  • face = deal with
  • habit = the way we do things regularly
  • huge = very big
  • in addition = also
  • income = here: the money a newspaper gets
  • increase = go up
  • invention = the making of something new
  • out of business = they no longer exist
  • previous = earlier
  • publishing = printing
  • share = to use with others
  • shuffle = to move quickly
  • spell checker = a computer program that tells you when you have spelled a word in a wrong way
  • strongly = here: much
  • subscribe = here: to pay money once a moth or once a year to get something