The Future Of Local Media – Will It Be Entirely Digital?

Empires were built on the foundations of traditional media, and some of the world’s wealthiest and most influential moguls sharpened their teeth within the fiery high-rise offices of buildings across central London, Tokyo, and New York throughout much of the 20th century.

In just a quarter of a century, we’ve witnessed the total deconstruction of this format, with some areas, such as newspapers, hemorrhaging sales to such an extent that it has resulted in mass layoffs and the closure of some of their landmark buildings.

All of these factors are a nightmarish scenario for an industry that has traditionally had a pincer-like grip on the media that we see and digest. A potent blend of social media, cheaper internet sources, and growing distrust in traditional media has resulted in the industry’s fabric changing to an unrecognizable extent within a relatively short period.

If this trend continues, could we see the destruction of traditional media that many of us grew up with in the 1990s and early 2000s, or could we see a shift back toward more traditional forms of media?

The Digital Entertainment Revolution

To the despair of many journalists and writers who have spent decades establishing a name for themselves in traditional circles, they’ve been replaced by a new breed of writer and journalist. They’re not alone in this – other areas of entertainment have felt the wrath.

Streaming services are encroaching on the territory of traditional sports and news broadcasters. YouTubers and podcasters are capturing a significant portion of the market from radio and talk shows. Ignition features highlight how intricate game designs are pulling conventional gaming fans away from established providers into the new digital realm.

Media companies have had plenty of time to prepare for this – it became evident 30 years ago that the internet was going to become a majorly disruptive influence on what some might call a monopoly.

Tabloids in the UK, for instance, such as The Sun newspaper, which is essentially a glorified comic book, have had a mountain of scandals and horrific stories printed over the years. This is one company that few people will be sad to see the back of.

By profiting from the misery and poorly sourced shock-horror headlines, they’ve laid the foundations for people to seek out other sources of media, which is a void that digital media has been able to fill—but for it to completely engulf these titans of traditional media is another challenge altogether.

Digital Influence In Traditional Roles

AI is being used in numerous areas of traditional companies, whether it’s replacing large sections of marketing departments or organizing people’s days via AI calendars, thereby bypassing the need for conventional assistants.

Media takes on a different format, especially local media. Still, it’s a void that has been filled, for better or worse, by social media and those who have been able to build a following on sites such as YouTube and Instagram.

The rise of the YouTuber as a media source does not come without its issues. Regardless of what is said about legacy media and some of the considerable problems they have caused, there’s an equal level of contempt out there for those who solely get their information from social media echo chambers.

It doesn’t matter whether they are on YouTube, Twitter (now known as X), or a varied source of media from all sides of the spectrum, as the best way to ensure your opinion and news source do not become polarized.

A Changing Demographic

The older generation might be the ones who are keeping traditional media afloat. Still, there are enough tech-savvy boomers around to ensure that media behemoths that have generated income online will remain a presence in the years to come. In the UK, some news outlets, such as the Daily Mail, have been able to shift their focus from paper-based tabloid to one of the most widely used websites in the media.

Of course, as is often the case with so many news websites, there have been issues with the content and the legitimacy of their news. In the digital age, however, it appears that people are less concerned about well-sourced news and more concerned about how they can disseminate news headlines faster than their competitors, regardless of accuracy.

We don’t want to lump all news websites and social media journalists into this equation. Many uphold some of the traditions that made journalism a revered occupation during significant periods of the 20th century. If we’re to treat media as a microcosm of broader online trends, then it seems inevitable that it will move closer toward a digital-only industry.

It’s challenging to predict where any industry will be in 25 years. Still, it’s even more difficult to envision a world where traditional local media, such as newspapers and TV, will make a comeback, especially in the face of cheaper and faster digital media. However, stranger things have happened.