Saxum|PR

Apple Tablet May Change Journalism the Way iPod Changed Music

January 27th, 2010 by Renzi Stone. Posted in Entertainment, Industry Expertise

If you ever rode on a subway in America before Apple’s iPod debuted in October 2001, then you remember that people were listening to Sony Walkmans or (gasp!) nothing at all. Go to any bus station or train station today, and a huge percentage of riders will have the little white Apple ear buds protruding from their ears. The iPod is a very popular gadget for the top socioeconomic classes. Studies show penetration still has a way to go with lower groups, but we haven’t heard anyone at Apple complaining.

Now, think about today. If you travel to any airport, ride public transportation or have spent the night at a hotel before, then you have seen printed newspapers in use. Today marks a major change for printed news as we know it.

Apple introduces their Tablet to the world today, aka the Kindle Killer (much to Amazon’s dismay), at an exclusive event in San Francisco. We’ll know more as reviews come in, but book publishers have been scrambling in recent weeks to make sure their electronic books are available, and I’m sure newspaper publishers will be next in line to sign up. Finally, journalism has a tool that could make paid content the new normal.

Whether you live in Tulsa, Oklahoma or Timbuktu, the Tablet is being billed as the electronic tool that will change how consumers receive their news, interact with social media channels and change how we all read books.

I predict that public relations professionals will have to adapt as well, because the Tablet, over time, will create new audiences who currently are not participating in the exchange of information. Also, I predict motion graphic HD video has an opportunity to become a mainstream news product.

I’ve never considered myself an early adopter. I got my first iPod in 2003. Saxum’s philosophy is much more aligned with practical use of new technologies. However, I may splurge and get a Tablet. I’m just too excited about the possibilities of this new tool.