Would you get rid of your ink-soaked newspaper and magazine subscriptions that you throw away everyday for an iPad version? Think about it, you would look super awesome reading your daily newspaper on your lunch break and improving your carbon footprint.

The Mercury News posted a story last week saying that Apple was going to start offering newspaper subscriptions. Today, The Wall Street Journal posted an article stating that “Apple could announce a print-subscription offering as early as the next month or two, some of the people familiar with the matter said. One person cautioned that Apple is still working on the technology and may prefer to announce its periodical service early next year, along with the likely introduction of a new iPad.”

Apple has discussed a subscription service that wouldn’t allow publishers easy access to personal information, an issue many of us have with print subscriptions. Publishers could encourage iPad subscription customers to volunteer personal information by offering incentives, like free Sunday newspaper delivery or other options. Subscriptions are a much more important business for U.S. publishers, representing 7 of every 10 newspapers and magazines sold. Hearst, one of the nation’s largest diversified media companies, has been more accommodating to Apple’s subscription offering than others.

This major decision by Apple could be one more spike in the coffin of printed media. I worked at a newspaper for 9 years and still am not a fan of a physical printed newspaper. The media companies know printed media won’t be around for much longer, so why not get in the game early? With iPad sales growing and Apple increasing production, many of us should tell the paperboy to quit his job and start working at an Apple Store.