As iPad sightings become commonplace, and as the habits of early adopters are scrutinized for clues about the influence tablet technology will have on consumer choices, the news industry is wondering -- desperately and obsessively -- whether tablets will save newspapers and magazines, or just pound a few more nails into the coffin.
In many ways, the mobile tablet format is ideal for the distribution of newspaper and magazine content -- and initial studies show a robust appetite for news among those who have already purchased the devices. However, history and other evidence suggest that once the novelty wears off, traditional media will need to work a lot harder to retain those early adopters and to interest a broader consumer base.
Mentioned later in the article is the National iPad User Survey conducted by the Reynolds Journalism Institute:
A December survey of more than 1,600 iPad users by the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri reported that accessing news content was the most popular use of the device, with nearly 80 percent saying they spent at least 30 minutes per day consuming news on the iPad. When participants were asked what would influence them to purchase digital content, "a price lower than the price of a print subscription" was the most popular answer.
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