A research by the Abha-based Aseer News has revealed that Saudi youth prefer reading online editions of local newspapers.

“We conducted a survey last December with 30,000 Saudis. About 12,000 participants aged between 15 and 35 or 40 percent of the sample said that they prefer to read news online,” said Saeed S. Al-Ravie, Aseer News editor in chief.

Aseer News is an online publication which was founded five years ago in Abha. It publishes one print edition yearly. At its launch in 2009, the editor of a Jeddah-based broadsheet publication had said: “The future of the newspaper industry lies in the online edition.”

The survey also found that 1,100 participants aged between 35 and 50 or 3.6 percent preferred the traditional newspaper which they take their time to read leafing through the pages.

“The older generation prefers to read the hard copy which has become a habit and which they like to leaf through while sipping tea or coffee,” said Al-Ravie, adding that modern technology is alienating for them.

“They spurn modern technology because they are reluctant to learn anything new at 50 although they are still young at that age,” he said.

A Saudi scholar noted that advertisers still announce their products and services in the print media instead of online editions because there is a strong reader base for newspapers.

“Although it is commonly said that online editions will replace the print media, newspapers will still be around for many years to come,” he said.

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