You need the news
Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man. But the printed paper has survived, and thank goodness! While the introduction of Craigslist and other forms of internet advertising in the mid-1990s contributed to a major loss of revenue for printed newspapers and reduced the size of the paper, the false narratives that paper is a wasteful use of natural resources, that reading news on a computer (have you ever tried to “recycle” a computer?) is more “green” gained traction and further hurt print circulation.
Why is the printed news so vital? “We live in an era of impermanence, bombarded by short, ephemeral bursts of information and images,” writes Chris Harrold, vice-president and creative director of Mohawk Papers, and a nationally known expert on paper and printing. “As much as digital is the new normal, it is fleeting. In this context, all things analog have been imbued with a new sense of authenticity, gravitas and permanence.” If you read something online, there’s no guarantee the substance or even facts will not change in the future, and you will never again see what you just read. Also, according to Scientific American, reading the printed page rather than a digital screen boasts measurable benefits such as better shortand long-term comprehension, is more satisfying, and allows for better focus. And Two Sides America’s recent survey says that 73 percent of U.S. consumers feel that reading a printed piece is more enjoyable than reading on an electronic device.
The printed newspaper is more trustworthy and beneficial. Period.
Regardless of how you prefer to read your news, digital or printed, subscribers need to do our part and preach to those who do not understand, as we do, the importance of supporting our local newspaper. Ask your friends, co-workers, vendors and neighbors if they have a Sun subscription, and, if not, suggest they look into it. We are implored every day to eat local and shop local. Let’s take it one more important step further. Let’s consume our news local.