A proposal for a digital newspaper
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.
Preparation
There are plans to stop production of your university newspaper. You feel that the newspaper should be saved. You decide to write a proposal to the university suggesting a digital version of the paper.
A proposal for a digital version of the university newspaper
Introduction
This proposal intends to outline how a digital version of the university newspaper, The Scallion, could function and aims to show that an online paper is viable for the future of the newspaper. It draws on the views of 3,000 students surveyed in May.
Background
The Scallion is printed weekly and distributed free in faculty buildings, with a readership of approximately 10,000 students. It is written and produced entirely by students. The survey shows that the newspaper is highly valued by university students and staff for entertainment, cultural enrichment and work experience.
Current problems
The cost of printing newspapers is significant. Furthermore, some students do not have easy access to the paper, since the only way to obtain a copy is to physically go to university. An additional environmental issue is that a large number of copies end up as litter on campus.
Proposed solution
It is proposed that the newspaper could shift to an online format. An overwhelming majority (95 per cent) of survey respondents were 'keen' or 'very keen' on this.
The key benefits would be:
- Lower costs. Electronic publication is much cheaper than printing, and the website would require minimal maintenance. Although there are considerable initial costs of developing a website, these would be offset over time.
- Improved accessibility. Students unable to collect a copy and those with visual impairments would be able to read the paper online.
- Eco-friendliness. A website would reduce paper usage and produce no litter.
- Digital media experience. For student journalists, gaining experience in running a web-based news site would be invaluable for any job which involves digital communication.
Drawbacks
One issue is information management. The site would have to comply with data protection and privacy laws. Advice should be sought from the IT department.
Another drawback may be personal preference. Twenty-five per cent of survey respondents liked having a physical paper to flick through in a café. However, as this is a minority view, I would suggest that the benefits of the online paper outweigh the inconvenience on this issue.
Conclusion
The results of the consultation suggest that moving the paper online is the best option given that it would reduce costs, be more environmentally-friendly and reach a larger audience. A change to a digital format is therefore recommended to maintain the benefits of the newspaper while addressing its current difficulties.
Tips
- Start by reading the question carefully. Brainstorm all your thoughts about the proposal first. Then choose your best ideas and plan your paragraphs.
- Use subheadings to make the structure clear. Start by stating the aim of the proposal (Introduction) and giving information about the context (Background).
- Next, move on to the Current problems and your Proposed solution. You can also mention the Drawbacks and how to address them before you finish (Conclusion).
- You should use an impersonal, formal tone for your proposal. Passive verb forms (e.g. It is proposed that … , Advice should be sought …) are a useful way to avoid I think or You should.
- The final section should include an overall recommendation based on your previous points.
I prefer read a newspaper online instead of paper because when you read online cut off less tree and transfort is easier.
For many years I've bought my favourite newspaper by the kiosk, but, by now, I read it on line.
I prefer to read the newspaper online. Even though I was born in the era were the only way to read the newspaper was by getting it in his physical format, I started consuming news and media through the internet. So I have been reading news and any sort of information mostly online my whole life. I'm used to and I don't feel like changing it would be better or worse, it's just the way it is.
Personally, It depends on the situation. For instance, I prefer to read traditional newspaper when I am in a coffee shop becouse I want to desconect from social media while I am outside. On the other hand, at home, I always choose digital newspaper as it helps me to stay aware of the latest updates.
I really enjoy reading online newspapers because they offer a convenient way to stay informed about current events from around the world. The accessibility and variety of topics available at my fingertips make it easy to find something that piques my interest. Plus, the interactive features, like videos and comment sections, add an engaging element to the news experience. It's great to have the news just a click away!
Hi team,
For task 3, question 5, "......meaning loss of subscription fees and .....", is there any difference if we insert 'a' before 'loss'? Thank you!
Hi _Yan_,
No, there's no difference. "Loss" can be countable or uncountable here.
I hope that answers your question.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
In my opinion, I find it more pleasing and enjoyable reading a newspaper online, rather than paper. The reason for this is that online newspapers are constantly updated, so, I can read an article, and after I have finished it, there's a new one I can start giving a look at. On the other hand, paper newspapers are only updated until the next day, leaving a lot of time for important events to happen. Also, online newspapers allow the distribution of better-quality images or even videos that complement the news description. Finally, it is important to outline the environmental benefits online implementation brings, as there is no need to use tons of paper that ends up being wasted and not recycled. As there may be many people keen to read news physically in a paper, I say that the benefits of online news consumption outweigh any possible drawbacks it can have.
Do you prefer to read a newspaper online or on paper?
Personally, I'm not interested in following the news, especially on a daily basis. But if I were a big fan of the news, I would have preferred to read a newspaper online. There are some advantages to accessing the news online.
First, Given that speed and time are important in publishing the news, being online makes the news publish in the least possible time.
Second, it causes many high-quality pictures and videos to be used along with the news which, in turn, makes the news more interesting and real. Things that before the advent of the internet weren't possible.
Third, there is no need to take time to buy the newspaper. You can access the news whenever or wherever you want. I mean anywhere you have internet access, so to speak.
Fourth, you can comment on the news and share it with others, as well as read other's ideas.
As a matter of fact, The more I have thought about online news, the more I am convinced that the internet has brought massive growth in the news industry.