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Online vs printed press

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Online vs print press - Is there room for both?

Printed press - still vital in this digital age?

Words by Greg Harper

We’d like to say that the print press has seen its day and we, as a generation, should usher in a new form of media deliverance… In truth though, both these mediums can wonderfully function together if they’re willing to do so and define their separate roles from the offset. Where online music sites can be up to the minute, jam-packing themselves with news and current event stories… Pete Doherty’s bought a new hat? Thank you NME.com… the standard print press can, and must, remain the filter system for the industry’s press.

It’s this filter system that, driven by column inch space, should be separating the legendary from the also-ran, or as Tony Wilson would demonstrate; looking for the cream at the top of the milk. It should be the responsibility of the national music papers to have a degree of dedication to championing the best artists around without falling into a pattern of praising a band one week to retract it the next in order to compete with websites such as Drowned in Sound, Pitchfork and Rockfeedback who strive to stay one step ahead of the game, and doing so magnificently.

"...the standard print press can, and must, remain the filter system for the industry’s press."

The best thing about the internet is that anybody can put music out there, while the worst thing about the internet is that anybody can put music out there. This has killed the fragile filter system that NME, Clash and The Fly down to The Stool Pigeon and Beat Happening should be helping to maintain. Both these mediums can brilliantly work together as the nationals are now starting to realise, both The Fly and NME paying serious attention to their web-based sisters, allowing the papers at last to reform to their better years of serious writing, not that The Fly ever really slipped to be honest.

And that brings us to the question as to what each should be doing in order to maintain the status quo. That’s what this boils down to; websites being websites, a place to share ideas, stay on top of what’s happening, read up to the minute blogs, stories and reviews leaving the print press to pick the best of what’s out there, discriminate and present only the top of the pile to us in weekly or monthly, coffee table ready instalments.

Is there room for both? Sure there is; as long as you can respect why one another exists, not trying to be anything other than what you are.

Related links:

www.nme.com

www.drownedinsound.com

www.rockfeedback.com

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What do you think?:

Showing 2 out of 2 comments

MIKE BORGIA saidSep 17 2008 8:21 pm [delete]

WE need all forms of media online and in tangible form. Not everyone all the time is attached to their computers to get the vital info they desire. Although online helps there is no better way to inform people than a face to face chat, or having it in hand. Personal interaction is the most viral in my experience. There are no limits from my point of view as an artist you should try everything and be consistant.