December 3, 2008

A Reason for Print?

As I bought my cup of coffee this morning on my way into work, I did something I haven't done in years:

I bought a copy of the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News, this area's two big daily newspapers.

I am a news junkie, and I have converted about 90% of my intake to electronic format. At work, I have aggressively promoted replacing as much print with electronic as possible. I have blogged about the changes in the news industry. Buying something in print was an extravagance not really necessary in this economy.

Nevertheless, I was seduced by the "tabloid-type" headlines and layout of the automobile industry bailout stories.

Have I read them? No. They sit in my bag, along with a bill to mail. Will I read them tonight after work? Perhaps.

Unless I read the articles first today on the Internet.

5 comments:

Maria said...

I will never buy a newspaper or magazine again; it's just easier and more convenient to read news online. Saves the trees, too! Keep up the great work as I enjoy your blogs!

Barry said...

Ever heard of home delivery? Nothing beats a real paper and a cup of coffee while the morning snow falls and the eyes are adjusting to being awake. And for a bonus, you can take it, shall we say, other rooms as well. Try that with your notebook.

Phillip Kwik said...

Interestingly enough, I did receive daily home delivery of the Detroit Free Press and Sunday delivery of the The New York Times for many years.

One day, no doubt as the morning snow was falling and I was drying out wet newsprint, I looked at my newspaper bill: almost $500 a year for two newspapers.

That is when I realized that I could read the Free Press, the Times daily, and many other publications on my $600 a year Internet tab.

I never looked back.

Anonymous said...

At this time of year, I love receiving the store sale inserts in my local paper. Sure I could look up each store individually online and browse the sales there, but when you are at the store and you are trying to explain to the clerk that the item you are trying to purchase is 50% off, it helps to have the concrete proof in your hand.

Phillip Kwik said...

Who shops in brick and mortar stores anymore?:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=al0AAROtnroc&refer=home