PRINT journalism is no longer glamorous and I think it’s time we stop pretending that it is.
Today’s newsrooms are leaner, quieter and often stretched thin.
Yet during my recent working visit to media organisations in Jakarta, I saw something familiar: whether in London, New York, Jakarta, or even Kuching, print media everywhere faces the same struggle – declining revenue, shrinking print circulation and the constant push to adapt to digital.
On the first day, we visited KOMPAS, one of Indonesia’s leading media groups.
I was struck by how diversified its operations were.
While its print business is facing challenges, the group has built numerous thriving businesses like hotel chains and universities.
These side businesses not only generate revenue but also help support its journalism, allowing it to continue producing quality news despite market pressures.
It was a vivid reminder that sustainability in media often required creative thinking beyond the newsroom.
We also visited Tempo, another respected Indonesian media organisation.
Like many others, Tempo’s core news business is under financial pressure.
But what stood out is its commitment to the future of journalism.
It has established institutions dedicated to training and teaching journalists, nurturing the next generation of media professionals.
It is a model of long-term thinking: investing in people and skills as a foundation for keeping journalism alive.
Even then, the shift to digital is unavoidable.
Across the world, media organisations are moving online, whether through free content supported by digital ads, subscription or membership models, or a combination of both.
Websites, mobile apps, newsletters and social media channels are now as important – if not more – than the printed paper.
Staying relevant means being visible everywhere, all the time and in every city.
But let’s be honest: digital is not the magic solution everyone hopes for.
Digital advertising rarely replaces the revenue print once generated.
Subscription models face resistance and algorithms now decide what content gets attention, not editors.
AI is also changing the game, summarising articles, optimising headlines and distributing content automatically.
Efficiency may look easy but the craft behind quality journalism cannot be automated.
AI also makes digital platforms more attractive to advertisers, widening the gap between technology companies and traditional media organisations.
Newsrooms are now competing not just with each other but with machines optimised for attention.
Yet, despite all this, I do not believe print journalism is dying.
It is going through a reckoning, yes, but also reinvention.
Newsrooms worldwide are confronting outdated business models and experimenting with new revenue streams.
KOMPAS thrives because of its diversified portfolio; Tempo invests in education and training.
These are examples of media organisations thinking creatively while staying true to their mission.
The role of journalists has also changed.
Reporters are now expected to write, shoot, edit, post and engage – often simultaneously.
The pace is relentless, the pressure constant and the rewards rarely match the effort.
And yet, people stay.
Because print journalism, even stripped of its glamour, is still a noble career.
Not because it is easy or prestigious but because it matters.
In a world flooded with misinformation, half-truths and AI-generated content, credible journalism is not optional – it is essential.
Print journalism may no longer dominate the conversation but it still anchors it.
The platform may shift from paper to screen but the principles remain: accuracy, accountability and public interest.
These are not values that can be automated or outsourced.
Choosing print journalism today is not the easy path.
It is a conscious decision to commit to a profession that demands resilience and belief.
Belief that facts still matter, that stories shape societies and that good journalism will always find its audience, whether on paper or screen.
Different newsrooms, same struggle.
Whether in London, New York, Jakarta, or Kuching, the challenges are the same – but so is the determination and optimism: journalism, though transformed, is far from finished.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at sarahhafizahchandra@gmail.com.
