Class Review and Response: Why Are Newspapers Still Around?

     With newer innovations such as the radio, TV, and the good old internet, you would think that newspapers would be an idea of the past. Yet still, newspapers are everywhere and well-known. So the question is, why aren't they long gone? There are several reasons for this, which we discussed in class, and I will describe below.

Diversity
     Newspapers also offer a wide variety of material, including news, sports, comics, crossword puzzles, and a lot more, all collected in one publication. There's something for everyone!

Non-Linear
     You can read newspapers at your own pace, and you can skip to the parts that interest you without having to sit through parts that you don't.

Affordable
     Newspapers are far cheaper and therefore much more accessible than internet and computers, or cable and televisions.

Depth
     Each story goes into greater detail than if you were just listening on the radio or watching TV. Aside from the internet, newspapers have the most detail for each story or article.

Credibility
     Because journalist's number one priority and main duty is to tell the truth, you can always trust newspapers to be credible and truthful. While not everything on the internet is true, newspapers are rarely incorrect.

Easy and Low Tech
     The only technology used in newspapers is literacy. You don't need any knowledge, training, etc. outside of being able to read in order to read newspapers.

Physicality
     Saving what I believe to be the most important for last, the physicality of newspapers is a key part of why newspapers are still used. With newspapers, you can take it with you to read on your own time, wherever you are. You can save it for years, preserved and laminated for future use. You can share news much easier from person to person this way, unlike with newer technology. It can be kept for long periods of time.