AS a student and later a lecturer of journalism, the future of newspapers and the challenges faced by print media were part of the academic discourse. But three decades ago, no one imagined that newspapers — the foundation of journalism — would one day struggle for survival.

Last year, two leading Urdu newspapers in Peshawar halved their number of pages and editorial content. The editorial page is considered the soul of a newspaper and reflects its policy. Its reduction suggests that newspapers have sacrificed their souls. Historically, newspapers functioned as nurseries of journalism, producing towering figures like Faiz Ahmad Faiz and prominent TV personalities.

According to the PBS, there were 749 newspapers and periodicals in 2011; by 2019, the number had dropped to 707. In Punjab, dailies declined from 102 in 2011 to just 42 in 2019. In Sindh, the number fell from 44 to five. In contrast, KP and Balochistan saw a rise: from 90 to 214 and from 155 to 178 respectively.

The PBS also noted that the average combined daily circulation of newspapers fell from 9.9 million in 2007 to 6.1m in 2008 — including 4.6m for Urdu, 670,743 for English, and 640,897 for Sindhi newspapers and periodicals.

Closure of newspapers is now a common trend.

The decline can be attributed to technological, economic, social and political factors. Rising inflation and falling revenue have made printing and distributing papers commercially unviable. The increasing cost of newsprint and fuel has further dented circulation. More critically, advertising revenue — long the lifeblood of newspapers — has shifted to digital platforms. This digital competition, combined with falling readership, has made the survival of local newspapers extremely difficult. In rural areas, where purchasing a newspaper is often considered a luxury, readership remains limited mostly to students or government offices. Historically, print outlets have also had to endure the effects of censorship — including self-censorship — which undermines credibility.

Globally, the closure of newspapers is now a common trend, driven by economic pressures, shifting consumer habits and digital disruption. Many papers have transitioned to digital editions, relying on online subscriptions and advertising. This shift has especially hurt smaller regional papers, shrinking the space for local news coverage and forcing communities to rely on less reliable digital sources.

In India, digital media is fast replacing print as the primary source of news. Print readership is falling, making it harder for newspapers to sustain themselves. As in other developing countries, local papers are shutting down while larger outlets pivot to digital-first strategies. Nonetheless, some newspapers are adapting by focusing on quality journalism and launching digital-only subscription models. But the digital shift has led to declining circulation, job losses and newsroom downsizing.

Forward-looking newspapers recognised these challenges early and adopted digital-first models, introduced online editions, and began updating news to stay afloat, with readers now preferring real-time updates. The shift of advertisers to digital platforms has resulted in significant revenue losses and job cuts. The increasing use of smartphones has driven consumers to digital news platforms.

Since 2017, the Indian print media has been faced with declining circulation and revenue, resulting in reduced staff. Many newspapers have opted for a digital-first approach, and these circumstances have led to corporate consolidation, reducing the scope for local journalism.

Despite these challenges, some newspapers are finding ways to adapt, such as by focusing on quality journalism, offering digital-only subscriptions, and experimenting with new formats.

Guidance is anot­her purpose of news­papers. Urdu newspapers primarily co­­ver statement-ba­sed journalism, crime, and other aspects of hard news, thus failing to perform the guidance function. Investigative reporting may help, but that involves high costs and risks. The local Urdu press of KP primarily does most of the above, but fails to cover soft avenues. However, by publishing obituaries, the local press performs its social function.

The circulation of Pakistani newspapers has never been proportionate to the population. Due to a poor literacy rate, the circulation of English newspapers remained low, compared to Urdu newspapers. Though web journalism is more interactive, Urdu dailies have failed to understand its importance, as it is a totally different medium.

Newspapers are the first draft of history; thus they shall survive in either printed or digital form. Print media has acted as an instrument of change, but are newspapers ready to embrace it?

The writer is a recipient of the University Gold Medal and Hameed Nizami Gold Medal in MA Journalism and has taught at the University of Peshawar.

X: @alibabakhel

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2025