Schools, colleges, and universities tend to reward people who chair committees but not people who design the Web pages that contain the committee minutes and so make it easier for committees to function. By the same token, scholars who disseminate research reports in printed journals with few readers are admired, while researchers who present their findings in stunning multimedia presentations with widespread appeal are slighted. If you choose to work in the new media, you may not receive rewards or recognition comparable to that bestowed on those who work in more traditional media. Because of academic tradition, scholarship that appears on the printed page is highly valued.
Print is also easy to distribute.
All you have to do is photocopy an article or send someone a copy of your book. Even better, make your students go to the bookstore and buy copies of your work. By contrast, scholarship that ends up in an electronic form is problematic. While it is easy enough to cite on a curriculum vitae, assessing its worth is difficult. For instance, imagine a statistical abstract of the condition of education in a school district or state.