Online Newspaper in Malaysia: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

With the emergence and advances of the Internet technology, the traditional media such as newspapers have to reassess their role in the Internet age. Not only newspapers have to compete with each other locally, but also with foreign newspapers from all over the world and other information providers choosing to deliver news on their websites. This paper presents the findings of an initial study on the changing trends of newspaper distribution in Malaysia. It examines the trends and outlook of selected traditional and online newspapers using data from various secondary resources from the years 2001-2007. The study also looked at some of the possible challenges facing online newspaper by conducting an interview with the Editor, Online Services from Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd. From the study, it was found that the availability of online newspaper does not affect the readership of print newspaper although there is a declining trend. What can be concluded is that online newspaper does not substitute the role of print newspaper. In fact newspaper companies that have their news on the Internet are seen as providing an added value to their readers especially when it comes to accessing news away from work places. Nevertheless, newspaper companies that provide online versions of their newspapers face several challenges in attracting more readers to stay reading news online.