Print vs. Web

I felt this question posted on our class blog pertained to media literacy:

"Many feel the newspapers and their Web sites each have a role to play and should complement each other. Explain what types of information or use-of-news practices you think are best provided in a print product, and/or what types are best provided by the Web. Why?"

After reading other comments, its apparent the class thinks longer articles should be printed in the newspaper and shorter articles should be posted on-line. Many journalists appreciate the tangibleness of newspapers. Realistically, this view seems more nostalgic than practical to me. Technology is making on-line news easily accessible and available to whole new audiences. Web reporting also allows unlimited space. It makes sense to provide detailed articles on-line as well as shorter, immediate hard news stories. The Web also provides opportunities for pictures, videos, links, related articles, blogs, community boards and other Web 2.0 applications. Printed newspapers will always hold a special place in journalists' hearts (and framed on their office walls), but for the rest of the world, newspapers will be more useful lining bird cages.