Our past week’s discussion on the ethics of search engines inevitably reveals their value and power, as well. A word or two dropped into a search box and a list of links appears almost instantly, opening a world of information that was unimaginable a few years ago. But pity the poor newspaper industry that cannot possibly compete with their dated paper and ink editions. Once again, this makes me feel old! Newspapers were once an ever present part of any major and minor city. I remember when many cities had two or more competing papers, plus morning and afternoon editions! Now they are slowly disappearing. It’s only a matter of time before newspapers are relics.
The advertising industry’s growing embrace of search engine marketing parallels their continual abandonment of traditional forms of print media. This combined with many consumers going right to the Internet for their news and information, has exacerbated the disintegrating factors that are shaking the newspaper industry. How can they possibly survive without readers or advertisers?
As newspapers start to circle the drain, the Internet in general, and search engines in particular, look healthier than ever. I wonder what newer technology will come along to knock search engines off their pedestals? I doubt we have long to wait.
