This exploratory study of a sample of 529 students attending Stanford University in the heart of Silicon Valley's computer industry was conducted to determine how a population that fits the early adopter profile views the prospect of receiving news and information electronically. The study found that two out of five students (1) believe that newspapers as we know them today, will be replaced by computerized data banks and, (2) if given the choice, would prefer to receive their news from electronic newspapers rather than from traditional newspapers. These findings are unsettling for the newspaper industry. Although the population studied is clearly not representative of American newspaper readers, the fact remains that two-fifths of the students are willing to desert their newspapers for an electronic version. This behavioural intent is particularly important since the market segment represented by the students - affluent and well educated - has traditionally been seen as including the best prospects for the next generation of newspaper readers. It is important to note that even those, favouring electronic newspapers, are avid newspaper readers. Since the major differences between the groups were attitudes toward and use of computers, it appears that, as society as a whole becomes more familiar with computers, a major barrier to the acceptance of the delivery of news and information electronically will be overcome. The study results suggest that a useful conceptual framework for separating potential users of new media systems from non-users would be to determine the extent to which the new media require both the active participation and concentration of the user as well as technical skills and positive attitudes toward that technology. Even in the homogeneous Stanford student sample, differences on a passive to active continuum were evident.