NON-PRINT:

Non-print is faster

News by definition is a report of the latest and most recent events. Take for example the much
respected but not often read newspaper. The earliest it can report a story is one day ahead due to
printing and delivery. Online news on the other hand, reports it as it happens. How many
Lasallians continually tweet once classes are suspended? Need the latest news? Access articles
online as soon as they are published. Real time updates are just one thing that makes non-print
unique.

Non-print is more interactive

Another benefit of online news is it’s interactivity. Newspapers have the limit of being paper.
Online news allows readers to see other related stories though links at the side. Toolbars allow
readers to see news even when they are just simply browsing along the net. More importantly,
online news allows readers to see the event happening through videos. Non-print, in some way,
displays how we as people have evolved.

For those who look to the media to answer their more specialized interests, magazines have been
around since the last century or two. Readers of this generation are more into the style of
websites and blogs. As any Netizen can attest, absolutely anything can be found on the web.
From the online counterpart of TIME and Vogue, to the most obscure websites full of cute
animal pictures, there is a website for every specialized interests.

the media to answer their more specialized interests, magazines have been around since the last
century or two. Readers of this generation are more into the style of websites and blogs. As any
Netizen can attest, absolutely anything can be found on the web. From the online counterpart of
TIME and Vogue, to the most obscure websites full of cute animal pictures, there is a website for
every specialized interests.

Non-print is more versatile and can be specialized

Customization is the next key element of online subscriptions; people can completely customize
their reading experience. Only interested in stories about sports? Getting rid of all other
nuisances is just a click away. Want all the juicy gossip on a certain tabloid favorite? Just choose
all tags relating to him or her. Being online allows a huge element of versatility and
personalization that print magazines cannot offer.

Non-Print is more convenient

Most ebook readers (like the Kindle) can hold up to more than 200 books. This makes non-print
much more convenient to carry around. The whole Harry Potter series can be in your bag at
once, as opposed to carrying around all 7 books. Non-print (through ebook readers) is lighter,
and therefore more portable. In addition, if an ebook reader gets damaged, one may have it
repaired, as opposed to an actual book—if it gets wet, that may be the end of it. Ebook users can
also share ebooks with their friends easily through email or through their usb’s, possibly making
non-print more accessible and cost-efficient than print.

Non-Print is more environmentally friendly

In our slowly deteriorating world, eco-friendliness is an important part of life (or at least it
should be). According to an article online: “Reading the physical version of the NY times for a
year uses 7300 MJ of energy and 700kg of co2. Reading it on a Kindle uses 100MJ of energy
and emits 10kg of co2.” The article also stated that (print) books are responsible for four times
the greenhouse emission as e-readers. Indeed, non-print is more environmentally friendly.

Non-Print helps the handicapped more.

One thing people fail to recognize about non-print is how it helps the disabled. The blind can
enjoy a story of a book by simply getting an audiobook. With audiobooks, the blind can still
enjoy a story, and with ebooks, the deaf can enjoy stories as well. Non-print not only allows the
blind to “read”, but also offers a customized experience. The experience of listening to an ebook
is different from the experience of actually reading a book.