Week One// Task Two: Digital media vs Print media

Task 2

Write an essay about 400 words: Describing your thought on media use include photograph If you want.

What is media?

Media refers to various means of communication. There are few types of media such as digital media, printed media and more. With seemingly endless forms of digital media, from smartphones to tablets, is printed media slowly becoming redundant? As a generation that relies heavily on technology and the internet, some may say yes.

Argument for Printed Media

Print has been around for hundreds of years and well-established media houses have a massive reader base, even if it is domestic. Print based media tends to be more costly than advertising through digital media offerings. Digital media may appear financially more viable at first but budgets can quickly get used up. Many printing houses offer very competitive prices for leaflets, and brochures. 

Argument for Digital Media

However, the rapid widespread influence of the internet and social media has left many in the marketing world questioning what this spells for traditional print. Some have even gone so far to ask, “Is print dead?” Most businesses only focused their advertising efforts solely online in an effort to capitalize on the extensive reach, cheap cost and convenience of the World Wide Web. Multimedia communication is increasingly important because it conveys information quickly and conveniently and also leaves a permanent record for review at a later time.

Since the introduction of the tablet as a new digital medium, the device has been flying off shelves. The tablet is fast becoming a common sight among digital natives. Tablets have provided an easier way to read magazines digitally. The flat sleek design of the gadget and flip-motion page animation has brought back familiar aspects of printed media. But what online magazines truly value-add to consumers is the ability to offer varied mediums as part of the digital presentation that cannot be seamlessly executed on paper.

Marketing Trends

Facebook:

There are 500 million users on facebook, a social networking site which businesses are using to connect to their audience.

Twitter:

Many businesses recognize that they must engage in dialogue with their market and communicate in real-time with business news and offers.

Conclusion

Print and digital media triumph in areas where the other is lacking. 

Thus, when used in conjunction, they would complement the failings and strengths of each medium. Print has its boon in its tangibility, high level of engagement and superior brand recognition. Print is also considered to have higher credibility as compared to digital media. However, digital media’s forte lies in multimedia storytelling, low cost ads and its wide audience reach.

(422 words)