The Printed Newspaper; Why It Lasts

I enjoy surfing the Internet as much as the next person, and I tend to search for news on-line quite often.  The ease and speed at which electronic media may be updated is undeniably convenient, and I can see how this would pose a thread to the old-fashioned printed newspaper.

There is something about the printed page, though, that keeps it as an iconic fixture in the homes of America.  Somehow, sitting down with a newspaper in hand is an entirely different experience than reading the news on-line.  Perhaps it is because the news may be more local.  You may see your neighbor, a favorite business or a hometown festival featured on the front page.  Something about this lends a feel of ownership to the reader, a sense of belonging, that the Internet just doesn’t offer.

Seeing a paper carrier at the same time every day, too, gives us a sense of continuity, something to look forward too.  Silly as it seems, we are creatures of habit, and we like our little patterns of life, from the most significant to the most trivial.

And there are the ever entertaining opinion letters from locals.  Nothing can seem to stir the pot like a letter to the editor.  Most opinion letters are pertinent to local issues, and reading them can give one a good gauge of what the community thinks about any given issue.

So, although some may have ceased to see the need for a local printed newspaper, my community still values it, and I am glad.