a study on declining newspaper readership

I said I believe in miracles. A miracle is any amazing or wonderful occurrence. Others define it as a “marvelous event manifesting a supernatural act of God.” Yes, it was amazing and it was also a marvelous act of God. I submitted my second draft on the last day of submission of grades (officially was April 9). Minutes after poring over my second draft, my thesis adviser gave me a grade I least expect. It was even higher than the one I wished for, and without further corrections! I was kind of worried because on Holy Thursday and Good Friday she was texting me to adjust, revise and add items on some chapters. I researched more, added tables and interpretations over here and there and refined my recommendations. Easter Sunday, I was done. The next day I went to school to submit my copy. All that I wished was I can have a grade on time, after the 3^rd semester, my maximum residency. What I got is a miracle, at least on my own terms!

Looking back, though lacking in in-depth sources and related references, I was encouraged by Dr. Georgina Encanto’s remarks when she said she can’t accept what I submitted as a thesis. She told me my topic was good but too short and shallow, and I ought to pursue it if only to contribute to the scarce references on the subject matter. She wants my work to be part of that rare resources of students and researchers seeking to expand knowledge on related research fields. Well, the way I see it, my thesis turned out to be more of a beacon, than a study tool, to journalists, editors and publishers especially, of the future of the print media. Why is newspaper readership declining? What can editors and publishers do to arrest the readership slide? How can the print medium cope up with the power of TV, radio and the Internet, especially the online publications and its interactive & dynamic nature? What lessons must the broadsheets learn from the compact tabloids? On theoretical perspective, how is the active news reader affected by the new media and how are editors and publishers dealing with it?

I just wish by the time I retire, there are still newspapers I can write with. I envy the likes of opinion makers Messrs. Teodoro Benigno and Luis Beltran—they died still holding on their pens, like the bridesmaids holding on their lighted lamps when Christ arrived.