A digital only future for periodical content

I love reading newspapers. And I love perusing through magazines. We get the print version of Wall Street Journal in addition to a multitude of magazines that arrive weekly, biweekly and monthly. In recent times, as I have made my trek to the recycled bin in my apartment complex to drop off the old newspapers and magazines, I have started wondering if the end is near for periodical printed media in my life.Dont get me wrong. I love the experience of reading a newspaper in the morning with my breakfast and then with my evening tea. Magazines make for excellent casual reading.  But the amount of paper being sacrificed for the few minutes or hours of reading are a burden on the Earth. The cost might be trivial for the consumer in terms of subscription, but the cost for Mother Earth is significant.Lest I be dismissed as a tree-hugger, there are other reasons for the growing move from print. The ever changing content is updated online as it happens. World events occur and repercussions follow within a day. By the time the next morning's issue of newspaper is out, quite a lot of things have happened. Facebook and Twitter are becoming portals where the latest is being shared and discussed.The iPad has also dramatically altered how we consume information. Many magazines[1][2][3] are now available as subscriptions or single issues for the tablet. Not to be left behind, revered publications like Wall Street Journal, Barrons, Economist and New York Times have dedicated tablet applications. E-book readers have news content delivered wirelessly just as your paper boy drops off the morning paper at your doorstep.Is this the death knell of print news?. Not yet. Online and mobile forms of digital content have not yet fully translated to revenues that replace the lost income from print sales. Subscription only based digital offerings of newspapers have met with middling success. But that day might not be far off when your favorite newspaper is completely gone or only available online. Until then, lets enjoy the last few years of print.