Gigaom has published an excellent article which explains the challenges US newspaper publishers face when considering moving from a print model to digital. The chart that explains media’s addiction to print contains two charts explaining the challenge. The main chart shows the time consumers spent with various mediums and the ad spend in those mediums. There is a massive gap with print – showing the medium punching above its weight and therefore demonstrating value to publishers.
The most optimistic view of the gap between time spent and advertising dollars devoted to print is to see it as an indication that print is orders of magnitude more effective for advertisers than virtually any other medium — otherwise why would ad agencies and brands spend so much money there?
It’s a good article offering an explanation which publishers would consider in the print vs. digital consideration.