Saying Farwell to the Print Newspaper

By: Christina Woldt

Our very first newspaper produced in America came to us in the 17th Century, from Benjamin Harris and Richard Pierce. Publick Occurrences, Both Foreign and Domestick came to print in September of 1690. Journalism didn't really take off with the first newspaper but, by the 19th century Penny Press newspapers brought news to the masses and made newspapers a popular commodity. 

Sadly, newspapers have passed their prime, they are no longer the bright shiny new toy fresh from the toy store. Newspapers are old news. Who needs stacks of paper and ink smothered fingertips when we can have the news of  the world at our fingertips. 

There are many benefits to online news; The cost of a Sunday print newspaper, in some cases, is more than an annual broadband payment; The news is at our fingertips and is virtually up to date with millisecond accuracy; Online newspapers are environmentally friendly : )

The only downfall I can conjure up is a case of poor eyesight from squinting at a computer screen all day. But what about our newspapers? Should we just lock them up in library archives or put them in a Media History Museum? 

Newspapers aren't dead yet but its circulation numbers are on a downward spiral. Though newspapers are not popular now, start collecting them because in 50 years they might be as valuable as old baseball cards.