Do you get a newspaper?

[Gardenarian]

Since I lost my hearing and can't listen to the radio I find that I am really falling behind on current events. The newspaper where we currently live is awful, but I'm looking forward to getting a daily newspaper when we move to Ashland. It seems to cover both local and world events really well.

I've tried keeping up using online sources, but it's just not cutting it.

One thing about people who have the TV on a lot, they really keep up with the news.

[lessisbest]

We don't get the daily "rag" here either (it's a complete waste of money), and I get obituaries and local news, and some state/national news from the on-line source for two of our local radio stations.

[Tradd]

I have a digital subscription to the Chicago Tribune, but I often buy the Daily Herald, which is our very good suburban paper. I like actually reading the paper paper, not just the digital edition, but it's nice to not have to deal with all the papers.

[Rosemary]

I never watch tv and only listen to the radio intermittently when driving. I find the news to be highly stressful most of the time, largely because of the sensationlist way it is presented. I skim headlines online, take a closer look at what is important or interesting. That's enough for me. If anything important happens, I'll know about it... and odds are, important or not, I can't do much about what's happening anyway.

[IshbelRobertson]

monday to Saturday we have The Daily Telegraph and The Scotsman delivered. Sundays we read The Sunday Times.

[kib]

I never watch tv and only listen to the radio intermittently when driving. I find the news to be highly stressful most of the time, largely because of the sensationlist way it is presented. I skim headlines online, take a closer look at what is important or interesting. That's enough for me. If anything important happens, I'll know about it... and odds are, important or not, I can't do much about what's happening anyway.That's about how I feel ... and yes I'm ignorant of some things everyone else seems to know all about (what is ISIS? yet another Dreadful Threat (that makes what, 700 Dreadful Threats I've lived though?) that's got something to do with the middle east. End of my knowledge.) Maybe I'm borderline asperger's too, because I really couldn't care less about a lot of things the world seems to find essential, and I'm very interested in some that seem boring or off the radar for most people. The world will probably survive without my audience participation, I figure.

[iris lilies]

Gardenarian, we do get the city newspaper each day. DH is the big reader. I skim it 3 or 4 times a week, and often skip it entirely.

We don't watch tv news at all, but we have the radio on all of the time, so we always get national headline news. The local newspaper is useful for local news. I also get a fair amount of headline news just having YAHOO load on my computer in front of me daily.

DH often gets mad at the extreme liberal slant of the St. Louis Post Dispatch and threatens to drop it. And then, there is his battle with the "online" charge which is pretty amusing. Each month they bill us for the newspaper adding a small "online access" fee of around $2. He crosses that fee off the bill, writes on it "I don't use or want this service" and he pays the bill without the online fee. So far there have been no repercussions.

[Gardenarian]

The reason this came up for me was that I took a survey on current events and couldn't identify half the world's leaders! It's important for my job to have a general knowledge of current events, and I'm really not up to speed. I think it will be helpful for dd, just starting high school, as well.

I agree that constant alerts of EBOLA! TERRORISM! SERIAL KILLERS! are silly at best and can lead to worrying too much. I like newspapers because I can choose precisely what I want to read.

I do feel a bit bad about the paper that goes into making them.

[iris lilies]

The reason this came up for me was that I took a survey on current events and couldn't identify half the world's leaders! It's important for my job to have a general knowledge of current events, and I'm really not up to speed. I think it will be helpful for dd, just starting high school, as well.

I agree that constant alerts of EBOLA! TERRORISM! SERIAL KILLERS! are silly at best and can lead to worrying too much. I like newspapers because I can choose precisely what I want to read.

I do feel a bit bad about the paper that goes into making them.

I can't identify half of the world's leaders. I've taken one of those tests and did not do well. If it is a visual image, I always fail at that. That's because I do not watch tv news. Outside of the visual, I'm still weak on world leaders such as names.

As far as online news, I am brought to impatience and often even anger each day when the local newspaper site takes forever to load anything. I can open and scan a printed page faster than the stupid thing can work, and we just upgraded our internet speed and have a new computer. This is as good as it gets, and the quality of the web experiences sucks.

I said upthread htat DH does not read the newspaper online. OTOH *I* login to the newspaper's site a few times a week. But I use my login that I've had for a decade, a free login. I don't know what the "official" paid login privilege will get me, maybe reduced ads? All of those spinning, flashing ad thingies will go away and the load will happen faster? I don't know, and don't have enough respect for the St. Louis Today site & newspaper to take time to find out.

[kib]

Or maybe you're just experiencing the beginning of what foregoing Net Neutrality will get us - no usable news unless we pay the $2 extortion fee.

[Teacher Terry]

I read the local newspaper daily. I like to sit in my chair with coffee & hold it. Much better then reading online. I watch the national news nightly on TV.

[KayLR]

WE do have the daily delivered to our home. I feel better informed not only like some of you have said, about world leaders, etc., but also about community events, sports, and politics. We are in the Portland media market, so all we hear about on tv news is focused on Oregon or PDX, very little on southwest WA (mainly traffic alerts). And we get nothing about the rest of the state, either, because of the media market. We do not watch national broadcast news because you only really get 19 minutes of headlines--no in-depth coverage.

But, that aside, we also enjoy getting the paper because DH and I enjoy the routine of it, sitting down together in the morning and having coffee and reading, discussing things we've read. AND we do the Jumble and sudoku and enjoy the comics, too. It's one of our simple pleasures.

We had an embarrassingly low voter turnout this past election. I think 1-if they emphasized in schools the importance and privilege of voting to youth, and 2- if people read their news more than just scanned it on FB or online someplace, we might see more participation in the process.

[ToomuchStuff]

The local paper has the nicknames of 2 ply and the exaggerator. At best, it has a page of stories and the rest is ads, horoscope, etc. It is a slow death coming. The regional paper, nicknamed, the Red star, tends to have stories in it, after they have already been online. The reasons to buy them are obit's and if your shopping for something specific and it isn't something you see in their ads on sites such as salescircular.

Besides those reasons, one other reason that I am turned off by them, is a late neighbor. All she ever did was complain about what she read in the paper or on the news, and around the neighborhood, she was called Mrs. Kravitz (from Bewitched). She would call and call and call to ask and nose into peoples business.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Those who are familiar with my posts may find this interesting - I do get a paper. I get the Wall Street Journal delivered to the house for free. Actually it's an interesting paper and it covers more than just business. How do I get it for free, you ask? On one of my survey panels, this is the nicest free award when you have enough points so I just keep getting this. Maybe someday the plug will be pulled on it, who knows, but it's nice while it lasts. Rob

[SteveinMN]

DW gets the Saturday and Sunday dead-tree papers. She likes turning the pages and reading on paper. I'd much rather read on-line, where I can look things up quickly or hit Wikipedia for some background. But the paper has a paywall -- you can read only 10 articles a month without a subscription. OTOH the two-day sub (you can't get just Sunday) gives us full access to the Web site 7x24 on whatever device we're reading it. It's a decent tradeoff for us.

[Gardenarian]

As some folks mentioned, I like the ritual of the morning paper. Read the headlines, do the crossword - I've missed it!

[razz]

I get the online version of our local paper now and enjoy reading it quickly each day along with the CBC website. I also check the Christian Science Monitor to see what is happening in the world and the US with periodic checks of the Toronto Daily Star. Now that I have gas fireplace In my lovely new home, I don't need that firestarter paper that I did on the farm's wood fireplace.

[oldhat]

I'd love the get the print New York Times, but it's just too darned expensive. A daily subscription now costs almost $600 a year! The digital version is less, but I don't have a tablet or e-reader and therefore would have to read it exclusively on my laptop, which doesn't appeal.

Our local newspaper is AWFUL. It's one of those chain-owned papers that have been milked for every penny of profit, all the while cutting staff and raising the price. I used to work for a small-town newspaper that was family-owned, and it was better than our local rag. And this isn't a small town, either--pop. around 150,000.

Small and medium-size papers everywhere are in a death spiral. A new model will emerge eventually, but it's not clear yet what it will look like.

[Lainey]

I get the newspaper delivered on weekends, and I enjoy reading it, although it might be in a quick mini-marathon on a Sunday if the weekend has been busy. I don't know if it's because of regular newspaper reading that I seem to be one of the few in my circle of friends who is aware of interesting local happenings that we can go to. I also feel better informed on more areas where there has been serious in-depth reporting: most recently, immigration.

Because of my paid subscription I can access these articles online, but after being on a computer for most of my workday, I'm rather not come home and continue working/reading on a computer.

[Blackdog Lin]

We do get the daily newspaper - though they have gone to a 5-day publishing schedule so it's not so daily anymore. And I feel that it is a truly good county newspaper - they of course focus on their hometown news (the county seat, 10 miles away), but do a good job of including the news from the other area small towns. They have a good mix of national news and area news. Just tonight, the front page had a story - headed in large font :) - about the city council of our small town of 3,000 souls raising the water rates 5% for next year. News we can use.

And since we're old(er), we need to have the obituaries. Do I need to send a card? Send a card with stamps, or send flowers? Go by the house with prepared food for a real sympathy visit?

DH and I laugh that the area newspaper wasn't as important to us 5-10 years ago. He worked for the local city public works and I worked for the local Post Office. Between the two of us we knew ALL the local news that was fit to know. And much that wasn't. :) We're out of the loop now. And enjoy the newspaper.

[Simplemind]

We still get the paper but it is now down to four days a week. I hate that. Hubby doesn't mind reading online but I'm not a fan. I don't read anything but the hard copy. After it is read we have so many uses for it. Starting the woodstove, uses in the garden... My cup of coffee just doesn't seem right without the paper in the other hand.

[Float On]

I live in a tourist town which doesn't like bad news in print so the paper has gotten pretty small over the years. I can't remember the last time I paid for it but it was 75cents for 6 pages. There is a free one I pick up and glance at but it's usually headlines I've already read on-line 2 days prior. I use to pay for the Sunday paper from the town to our north, for the coupons. But when it hit $2something for Sunday and the coupon section got smaller I gave it up.

[JaneV2.0]

I used to be a daily dead-tree newspaper reader, but no more. There's all the news "that's fit to print" on line (and the Jumble and Sudoku), with no newsprint to recycle and no ink to rub off all over everything.

[Packy]

I have subscribed to the local paper off and on over the years; it is the best source of news coverage in town. It has shrunk in size considerably, but still is the best, though I buy a copy at the grocery store, occasionally. I did not like the expense and to have the newspapers piling up, since the recycling bins were moved across town. Stupid reason, huh? They used to have paper vending machines at every gas station or shopping center, but that went away years ago. I like it--well actually, I am amused--when someone says a newspaper is "too liberal". Are they supposed to take a "the earth is flat" position on everything? Report nothing but Good News--the outcome of a local PTA Bake Sale as the headline story? But see, they are not really "Liberal", ideologically. They do two things, basically: a) report events by newsmakers, and/or b) present the subject in such a manner as to arouse controversy. Many serious newspaper readers(old fogeys or young fogeys who do everything the way Dad did, and his Dad, before him) aren't willing to accept change and adjust, accordingly. They idealize the past. That is their mindset. But, they cannot resist reading that nasty old rag to see some more of that controversial "liberal" news. In other words, the world from the point of view of a reporter who is out there, seeing events happen and trends emerging. But, fogeys read it over the morning coffee, to get aroused from their sleep. Dad always did drive a Desoto, and so I always drive a Desoto. But the damn newspaper just said Desoto went outta business in 1961! Whaaat? Damn Liberals! But, they still can't resist reading it, kind of like Church Lady, who always lets Satan tempt her prurient interests, but then pulls back from the abyss. It gives them/her something to be sanctimonious about. Here is something that is no coincidence, either: I believe that St Louis was the place where newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer not only promoted "Yellow Journalism", but established the Pulitzer Prize for excellence in journalism! What that says to me is that excellent journalism, by definition, arouses people and very often, negative emotions. See how that works, now? Thankk Mee.

[Greg44]

We have subscribed to the paper for 30+ years. Now it is $ 40.00 for 8 weeks, home delivered. I read the headlines and some articles, the vitals, and daily comics. DW likes local news & sports. She really really likes football (HS, College, Pro).

I question it's value everytime I pay that bill. With instant news online and broadcast media, it seems like most of it is "old news" by the time it is printed.

[frugal-one]

We have subscribed to the paper for 30+ years. Now it is $ 40.00 for 8 weeks, home delivered. I read the headlines and some articles, the vitals, and daily comics. DW likes local news & sports. She really really likes football (HS, College, Pro).

I question it's value everytime I pay that bill. With instant news online and broadcast media, it seems like most of it is "old news" by the time it is printed.

A few years ago, I contacted the paper to whom I had subscribed since the mid-80s. I commented on how new subscribers would get discounts but not the people who were long-time subscribers. Well, they cut us a great deal.... $10 mo/1st year, $13/mo 2nd year, and $15/mo for the 3rd year. Obviously, others had complained also. Might be worth a phone call, Greg44???

[Greg44]

I haven't noticed any deals for the paper - except if you sign up for automatic payment, they will send you a
coupon for a pizza :-(

I will keep an eye out for any deals - it never hurts to ask!

[wren]

Our only subscription is for a local weekly paper which does great investigative journalism into issues the larger papers ignore or whitewash. The paper has won awards for their stories. They also foster community development in this rural area. Honestly, if they doubled the annual price from $50 to $100, I think it would still be worth it to support the quality of their work. It's also the only source for what is going on in the area.

We can get regular national and international news via CBC Radio (Canadian public broadcasting) and CBC online which we pay for indirectly through our taxes.

[awakenedsoul]

I don't get a newspaper. I usually read the news on line. My parents still get the daily and Sunday paper. They are in the Bay Area. They enjoy it every morning.

When I was a teenager I loved reading the LA Times. I'd go right for Dear Abby, Sydney O'Marr, and the Calendar section. Seems like I've cut out a lot of things since owning a home and going frugal...I do love my library books, though! I also do a lot of research on the Internet.

[Glo]

I read the local paper daily.

[martha]

I read the daily local/statewide paper, and the alternative weekly which better suits my political and social views. I rely on online sources for national and international news. Haven't had a TV in more than 20 years now, and can't stand the "infotainment" that passes for newscasts today.