Electronic Reading Devices: E-Readers’ Effect on Print

Proving Print's Value

While Romano sees value in tangible, hard-copy printed products, it's the advertisers that need to be convinced in order to stave off the downward trend in ad pages. It is reasonable to presume that some level of paid pages will be recaptured as the economy returns to more sound footing. But, for half of that loss (or more) to be recouped over the next 18 months—during which period publishers beneath the level of the "five families" will struggle to reconcile costs or redefine their business models—the onus will be on publishers to reaffirm the value proposition of the printed product as a viable advertising vehicle.