Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Elliot Jaspin introduced an “electronic newspaper” he’s creating while he spoke during a lecture in the Manship School of Mass Communication on Monday. His device, a small, touch-screen tablet computer in development stages, would give newspaper subscribers easy access to information.The touchscreen model allows the user to see pages in PDF style and scroll side to side through pages. Users can also click on pictures, watch videos and access coupons for stores working with the newspaper.The device follows Jaspin’s three musts for the future of newspapers — reinventing the printing press as a digital device, returning to cheap, portable access and exploiting the advantages of digital information.Jaspin said some newspapers spend around $30 million on production per year. Newspapers could purchase enough of the $285 tablets and give them away for free to all subscribes and still save $15 million.Jaspin said the next step is introducing the tablet to a group of subscribers of a certain paper.”I think the case for the electronic newspaper is compelling,” Jaspin said. “Subscribers might find it too clunky to carry around, but there’s no way of knowing until we run a test.”Mass communication sophomore Bryan Woods said he would subscribe to a newspaper and sign up for one if the plans to give the device for free continues.”It seems interesting with the pictures, video recordings and coupons,” Woods said.Jaspin said because of this high-speed access and ability to be constantly updated, newspapers’ future “has never been brighter.””The technology that drives so much of our economy is going to give the newspaper industry a big wet kiss,” Jaspin said.Speaking to a room of mostly mass communication students, Jaspin addressed the future of finding jobs if electronic newspapers become prominent.”This device, I would argue, is your job insurance,” Jaspin said.Mass communication freshman Natalie Hee said the idea of conserving the environment is a good benefit of electronic newspapers.—–Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected]”I think it’s a good shot at trying to save newspapers,” Hee said. “The idea of giving up [print] newspapers is extremely appealing.”