Sanctity and Greatness of Print-published Literary Work?

Knowingly or unknowingly we are insisting that a literary work must be a print-published to be taken note of. It is every one’s knowledge that all awards and rewards constituted to honour a writer / poet / critic / essayist / travelogue writer and like creators insist to be considered for award / reward / citation / commendation the work must have been print-published. This insistence has meaning when printed version alone does the dissemination of the creative works.

But now web-publishing also is ruling the creative field. Many are publishing their works on the internet and are also being recognized. In addition to printed book we have so many other ways of reaching the readers, critics, award or reward givers. Under such circumstances why a printed version of the work is insisted and only considered.

It is well-known to all in the literary and creative field how difficult it is for an ordinary poet / writer / fiction-writer / novelist and like creators of literature to publish one’s work. First, publishing a work is a very costly affair. Unless the work is accepted by a publisher for publication it is an enormous task for the literary figure to publish oneself one’s work. And the choosy nature and calculating minds of publishers in terms money returns and such realities ruling and being practiced, makes it almost impossible for a poet to print-publish one’s poetry or literary work.

Will it become no literature or unworthy literature if web-published for consideration by all involved in literary landscape – the creators, the readers, the critics, fellow creators of literature, award/reward constitution – individuals / groups / societies and the like?