Do you remember Miranda Priestly, the editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine from the movie ”The Devil Wears Prada 2”? In the movie, she fights against the whole world, like a queen, to save her printed magazine from shutting down. This fictional masterpiece carries a real story of the dying printed media, the current condition of printed newspapers in Bangladesh.
Imagine that someone is — on a slow weekend — peacefully having breakfast with the whole family. Sipping on a cup of tea, his/her father is reading the newspaper, and the mother is serving the buttered bread. Ages ago, this used to be a precious part of daily life. Now, the reality has changed. Sadly, the old emotions associated with printed newspapers are fading away from people’s lives.
The burning question is, why are printed newspapers dying? It is difficult to answer due to two majorly conflicting factors. Institutions like the Department of Films and Publications mention that more than 15 million copies are printed and distributed by 584 registered dailies every day in Dhaka. On the contrary, independent surveys like Kantar MRB allegedly mention that the number of readers fell from 29.2 million in 2021 to 18.6 million in 2023. Similarly, a concern is raised over losing 5 percent to 10 percent of readers each year in the newspaper industry. The situation gets more depressing with Dhaka’s hawker associations’ statement. Only 54 dailies are delivered, with approximately 425,00 copies in total every day.
Bangladesh’s scenario is way gentler than the West’s. In the US, Northwestern University’s Medill project surveys show that the current audience has fallen from 7,325 newspapers in 2005 to 4,490 today. In the United States, only 7 percent of adults read printed papers or magazines. In Bangladesh, 26-27 percent of adults read newspapers, with print formats favored by a specific subset of that readership. Moreover, the Reuters Institute states that 44 percent of people aged 18 to 24 primarily seek information through social media globally.
This raises two crucial questions: who are the consumers of printed newspapers now? Why are the readers of printed newspapers declining in Bangladesh? Nowadays, only older readers, professionals, academics, offices, libraries, and long-time subscribers read printed newspapers. The consumers are not as diverse as they used to be. Mostly, older readers still enjoy the habit of reading a physical copy. In contrast, Gen-Z and Gen-Alphas mostly prefer social media, online news portals, and mobile apps. Consumers are becoming smaller and more specific groups of people.
The fact is that readers still have an interest in the news. But they are now changing the mode of consumption. As digital platforms are faster and more accessible, people can get the news, videos, and updates instantly without waiting for a physical copy. Many younger readers do not — therefore — feel the need to buy or wait for a printed newspaper in Bangladesh.
Another question can be pertinently raised here: does print journalism have a future? Print journalism has a future, but in a smaller spectrum. There are several benefits of print newspapers, including a tangible, focused, and immersive reading experience, that digital screens cannot match. But newspapers lack the speed of spreading information that digital media has. So, one suggestion is to emphasize investigative stories, detailed analysis, opinions, and exclusive editions. Printed media needs to offer deeper and more valuable information than regular online updates.
And this brings back the relevance of Miranda regarding Bangladesh’s printed newspapers. It is obvious that printed newspapers are fighting for survival. The Runway’s September issue was once filled with advertisements, but now it is, as Miranda says in the film, “so thin you could floss with it”. But the difference between Devil Wears Prada 2 and Bangladesh’s printed newspapers relevantly matters more.
On screen, Miranda’s rescue is represented through a billionaire owner and a five-dollar paywall, with a newsroom that bands together to save journalism. But in Bangladesh, there is no third act. The newspaper industry is not supported by any wealthy savior. It has government advertising and official figures using newspapers for marketing purposes instead. After all, the stakes are heavier than a glossy spread. A fashion magazine has flashy photoshoots to attract audiences. But a newspaper that loses trust takes the public record with it — something that an online news page can quietly edit in seconds, but a printed page cannot.
The harsh reality is, Mirandas are trying to save printed journalism. But saving printed media requires more than passion. Newspapers must protect truth and professionalism and earn public trust. A physical copy creates a permanent footprint that cannot be changed after publication. If newspapers maintain this trust while adapting to digital change, print may become smaller, but it does not have to disappear.
But connecting printed and digital journalism, instead of being competitors, can be a feasible solution to this problem. While digital platforms are better for breaking news and live updates easily and quickly, printed ones are better for more detailed, focused, and carefully curated content. Also, newspapers may offer subscriptions combining online and offline services.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Magazine and its editorial team. The views published are the sole responsibility of the author(s).
