When I was a senior in college, I read the newspaper cover to cover every single day for a year. At 11:00 AM, I took myself to the Dunkin’ Donuts on the URI campus, ordered a bagel with cream cheese and black coffee, and cosplayed a retired man with nothing to do in the middle of the day but read for two hours.
I was aware of the intense luxury of the moment. After graduating, I knew a full-time desk job would leave no space for leisurely afternoon reading. But I didn’t know reading the physical newspaper would prove so refreshing.
These days, I’ve traded the daily “Wall Street Journal,” filter coffee out of a styrofoam cup, and South Kingstown, Rhode Island for “Le Monde,” a double espresso, and Paris. As expected, I no longer have time to read the entire paper every day. But I’ve slowly been turning on friends to the dying art of reading the print newspaper. (Really, isn’t it already dead?) Here’s why:
Discover topics you wouldn’t ordinarily follow
This is the number-one thing I love about reading the physical newspaper cover to cover. Unlike websites, apps, or — God forbid — social media feeds where it’s too easy to simply scroll the headlines without really reading anything, the physical pages of a newspaper keep your eyes (and mind) focused on what’s in front of you.
Not to mention the lack of algorithms. Yes, of course there are still editors, agendas, and other tastemakers (some more nefarious than others) deciding what makes it to print. But unlike an algorithm that’s designed to reinforce your existing beliefs and feed you sensationalism to make your blood boil, a printed newspaper gives the same story to everyone, no matter what other content you’ve engaged with before.
That means in a single sitting, I can cover art, politics, culture, and finance, reading entire articles on subjects I’d normally scroll by without a second glance.
Free yourself from pop-up ads and paywalls
That alone is a compelling reason to pick up a newspaper instead of your phone. Sure, a newspaper still has ads. But no matter which page you’re on, there’s nothing physically obstructing your view of the text, unlike digital articles riddled with pop-up ads, ceaseless notifications, and, worst of all, abominable audio ads.
The same goes for pesky paywalls. You’ve already paid for the paper. Rather than having your data mined and your soul all but sold to God knows whom, buying a newspaper is a clean, transparent transaction: You pay for the paper. You get the paper. You can read the paper in peace without any notifications accosting you with solicitations to subscribe, click, or do anything but read the damn thing.
Get a break from the screen and constant notifications
I’m always looking for ways to add more quiet into my daily life, and I’ve found a general rule of thumb that rarely fails: get away from the screen.
“But I want to be informed,” you may protest. “I don’t want to shut out the world and become a hermit.”
Not a good enough excuse, my friend. The Internet is not necessary to be a well-read, informed person. There’s plenty to discover offline in the pages of the daily newspaper. And guess what? Once you’ve exhausted today’s edition, there’s more coming tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that.
Keep writing alive
Like much else in life, you get what you pay for. If you want quality reporting, vibrant storytelling, and intellectuals to earn a respectable wage, the money has to come from somewhere.
I get it. Life is crushingly expensive, and it seems there’s no respite in sight. But your local library definitely carries newspapers for free. Your local coffee shop might, too. (If not, why not make a friendly suggestion? The worst they can say is no. Plus, chatting up your local barista is a great way to practice putting yourself out there.)
Bottom line, our purchases literally fund the world we live in. If you want more free press and more jobs for creative thinkers, start reading the daily paper.
Going offline and living well
I’m a big advocate for living an analog life. The research is there; we know the Internet (and social media, in particular) is making us sad, lonely, anxious, envious — the list goes on. Reading the newspaper, even once a week, is a step towards building healthier habits to make life better. And it’s easy.
If the dark caverns of the Internet are still eating a lot of your free time, this is what helped me quit social media for good.
There are alternatives to the default way of living. You don’t have to do anything, especially lose time to doomscrolling and headline-skimming.
For more ways to fund the kind of world you want to live in, read easy, affordable ways to support local businesses and alternatives to Amazon for books.