By Nicholas Proch

There’s a long, ongoing debate about what will happen to the news media. Will newspapers die? That is an idea that finds its way into my daily thought process and, quite frankly, scares me.

It seems like an obvious notion that they will never be what they once were, but how far will they fall? Is the New York Times going to be something that we tell our grandchildren about when we’re old and telling stories that make them roll their eyes?

We’re already at the point where some young adults have never actually seen a typewriter in person. I’ve personally seen one. It’s in my grandparents basement on display like some type of trophy from a time that once was.

Technology has taken over. It’s now quite easy to have yourself published online and to have your voice heard. Twitter is where some people get their news from. That’s right, Twitter.

When Apple released the new iPhone operating system, iOS 5, last month, I immediately downloaded it. This is partially because a number of years ago I decided that I would support anything that this company rolled out. I have yet to be disappointed, but that’s neither here nor there. I’m a consumer whore and that is a column in itself.

There are several major and welcomed additions to the operating system, but one has been mostly overlooked. ‘Newsstand’, as it is called, is not liked by the average consumer. I find it to be very useful.

Let’s take another jump. As a person who is overly concerned with the media and wants to make a career in journalism, the amount of time I spend actually reading the newspaper or its online counterpart, is laughable. Part of this is because I don’t have time to do this job, take five classes, work another part-time job and have a social life, let alone stop and pick up a newspaper.

In my newsstand is the New York Times digital publication. It’s my connection to the well-reported world. Twitter is not reliable. Depending on the blog, that may not be reliable. They are great resources, but should always be taken at face value.

The Times, and other equally reputable publications, have codes of ethics, editors with experience, news teams and so on. There is someone to check your work. That doesn’t exist at a blog. Heck, the internet allows someone like me to have a blog. That’s a scary thought. Almost as scary as the thought of them winning the media war.

I was juggling my daily life, and texting while driving, when I saw Obama’s announcement about his plan in Iraq. The notification popped up at the top of my screen and I was looking at the story instantly. It was well reported. It had access to the right sources. I trusted it. That’s what will be lost if newspapers disappear. They don’t have to, they just need to adapt.

The ‘old school’ shouldn’t be fighting technology anymore. It will allow their messages to reach people they would have never reached before. They’ve put up a fight for too long. Now they need to embrace the opportunity they have, before they fade in to memory.

Now someone needs to figure out how to make money on the digital production and we will all benefit.