The radio in my car/truck would often be set to stations featuring news reporting. I like to know what is going on around me & in the world, even while driving.
I have also always had a subscription to the local newspaper & when traveling, would buy the paper of whatever city I was in. Just trying to stay informed, knowledgeable & up-to-date.
I guess it may be common knowledge that newspapers -- & national "news magazines" for that matter -- are facing decreased readership, mostly due to the advent of the cable/satellite television 24-hour news programing & -- of course -- the Internet. People no longer need to wait on news & information to be printed & delivered. It's already with them, often on display as the news is actually happening.
After 15 years of living in Arkansas & subscribing all that time to the local newspaper, I have allowed my subscription to expire. For the first time in almost 40 years ... I am not receiving a newspaper delivered to me each morning. And I can't say that I miss not receiving it.
The last several years I have had "issues" with content in the Arkansas newspaper. Sometimes it would be articles, along with the point or position being presented in the article. Other times it might be editorial comment & political position of the paper. Saying I disliked the "homer" position taken by the feature sports writer, would be describing it mildly. All of this made it easier for me to "give up" the daily newspaper.
While there are many reasons for going negative on the local newspaper, the two major reasons which finally made me decide to discontinue reading the paper -- & paying for it -- were:
** The local news section -- which always presents movie reviews in the Friday paper -- listed a movie review to be found by going to a website & gave the URL. And it wasn't even the newspapers web site !! I didn't buy the newspaper to tell me where to find information online.
** When it became too obvious that most of the news & reporting I read each day ... was "information" which was already 24-48 hours old. And I had read that information -- online -- 24-48 hours previously.
I will not write that I possibly won't re-subscribe to the Arkansas paper at some point in the future. Heck, if the price is to my liking -- which it certainly isn't now at $180 a year -- & I am offered "a deal", I might have it once again delivered to me.
For now, however, no news(paper), is good news.
You have made some good points about the newspaper. It leaves a lot to be desired.
ReplyDeleteWhat's a spots writer? Bubba
ReplyDeleteA "spots writer" would be the hack, know-it-all feature writer in the Ark. rag.
ReplyDeletewrong word alert!!!! 4th paragraph - instead of "do" try using "due"
ReplyDeleteMy bad! I would have sworn that your article said spots writer, not sports writer. I suppose that's why I need to keep my scheduled appt for cataract surgery next month. Earl P.
ReplyDeleteI have corrected the "spots" & "do". Thanks. Every writer needs an editor.
ReplyDeleteFor a minute I thought I had Bubba on this one- as what I read said "due". (Mrs. Roome didn't raise any illiterates, you know.) Anyway ..... I agree with Bill - in Florida I read the local Rochester paper on line and even then I think it is more out of habit than anything. And I don't get any newspapers delivered down there.
ReplyDeletesince I don't spend my days picking up sticks, walking at the senior citizens center or letting my cats in and out the door, I do read a lot of newspapers on-line each day...that and watching "fair and balanced" Fox News keeps me up-to-date. I no longer miss receiving a newspaper every day. Bubba
ReplyDeleteIn the past hour, I have been visited by the salesperson/"Retention Specialist" from the D.G. in an attempt to get me to renew the newspaper. This year her best offer is $139 for the year. Last year -- when I pulled the same stunt -- I got the paper for $119, rather than the $180 which is the standard yearly renewal price.
ReplyDeleteShe would have had to beat LAST YEARS PRICE to get me back this year.
Like you, I'll stick to the on-line information & the "fair & balanced" NBC News, along with MSNBC, & of course, the BEST news source -- THE DAILY SHOW !!
You do know...don't you...that you cannot get the D-G (primary Arkansas daily) on-line UNLESS you purchase their internet subscription? The only Ark news I receive on-line is via Maumelle Monitor or that weekly liberal rag. Earl P.
ReplyDeleteI never look at the D.G. on-line, so no loss there either. I have other sources with all the info I need to start my day ... "informed & up-to-date".
ReplyDelete