With the increase in online blogs and other sources to obtain news about current events, traditional print media has been undergoing a metamorphosis. Newspapers that used to be looked at as leaders in news reporting and opinion have been losing subscribers; local papers have been supplanted as a source for news. In order to remain competitive in this tough market, newspapers have had to adapt to the changing times.

Merging two or more smaller city or community papers into one is one way to remain competitive. Three county newspapers are merging into one in the Green Bay area; in the DC area, the Loudoun Times-Mirror and the Loudoun Independent are merging into one paper as well. Merging the papers keeps the vast majority of employees engaged while continuing to inform the local populations.

Traditional print media has also begun to embrace online concepts. Most traditional papers now have an online presence where customers can gain access to current issues and archived features. Some online options offer additional features that may not be available in the printed version. For the price of a Wall Street Journal subscription, you can receive daily delivery of the print edition and access to the online property for reading on the go. The New York Times has an online presence which the organization may start charging readers to access next year. Even smaller papers have online versions that readers can access.

Newspapers have been also reaching into the ranks of well-known bloggers and employing them as columnists at traditional media outlets. Economics blogger Ezra Klein has an online column on WashingtonPost.com while Ross Douthat has a column in the New York Times. The hope is that many of the online fans of popular bloggers may follow them to their new traditional media gigs.

Embracing the changing times and the online culture may allow traditional print media to continue into the future.