With all of the latest advancements in technology, it’s not a big surprise that print journalism is less prevalent than it used to be. Today, we have the option to pay for newspapers, or get the same information – including updated information – online, for free.

Starting in the spring, one of the world’s biggest daily newspapers, the Christian Science Monitor, will abandon print and turn to the Web to provide its news. Instead of releasing a newspaper Monday through Friday, the Monitor will publish on the Web and release a weekend edition in print.

Other big newspapers may look to follow suit.

I enjoy reading the newspaper in print. I am used to the habit of waking up each morning and reading about what is going on in the world as well as locally, and I would be willing to pay for that service. However, it is understandable that more and more people are going to alternate sources to get their news.

John Yemma, the editor-in-chief for the Christian Science Monitor, said the newspaper had been thinking about doing away with print for several years.

“Print circulation had been falling for several decades,” Yemma said during the Jan. 12 edition of “Fresh Air” on National Public Radio. “There is a lack of growth in print, and extreme growth on the Web.”

Yemma mentioned the costs involved in the printing process and said the move makes more sense.

As long as these daily newspapers offer their content online for free, print journalism will continue to fall.

“It’s hard to look at the newspaper industry and feel confident about the future of print,” Yemma said.

Yemma said print journalism poses problems in terms of distribution and production, and “imposes artificial deadlines on news,” whereas on the Web, information can be updated periodically so readers can stay up-to-date on stories.

With the way the economy is these days, this is the beginning of a trend. There are plenty of ways to receive the news. Television, radio, and even most cell phones now get Internet access, so any breaking news is seconds away from being received.

The Monitor, which will also be combine its foreign correspondents with Sacramento-based McClatchy Newspapers, emphasizes international news, with writers based in 11 countries as well as the United States, according to its website.

It’s only a matter of time before print is obsolete – soon we won’t even be given a choice.

Until then, I’ll continue to read the paper.

Kyle Kershner can be reached at [email protected]