Do Newspapers have a Future?

Sandie Seward · Do Newspapers have a Future?

Another article that I have written for my Newsvine Column, which I thought I'd reproduce on here.

lthough I had rather a late night working on my Newsvine column last night, I was awake early this morning, because I needed to get down to my local Newsagents before the Sunday Papers sold out.

I was after the "Mail on Sunday", not because I really wanted the actual newspaper, (I read their online pages instead), but I particularly wanted the "Freebie DVD" they were offering with it. A copy of the Neil Diamond film, "The Jazz Singer", a great film with a wonderful soundtrack. I already own the album (on vinyl), so I wanted the film to go with it.

Now, if I hadn't have been watching television last evening earlier on, I wouldn't have known about the give away inside the paper. I am not often swayed by television commercials, but this just had to be an exception.

Somehow, I think it's rather sad when, in order to sell copies of a newspaper, they need to bribe people with "freebie" offers like this.

Since having the Internet, and Broadband, I seldom buy any papers these days, much prefering to go online and read the articles and features that appeal to me. This way, I am able to avoid unwanted gossip concerning over-paid and under-talented, so-called "Celebrities", instead concentrating on the really important issues of the day.

Now, I am seriously thinking about stopping my ongoing order for home delivery of my local paper. Why? Because I have discovered that they, too, have a website, and it's far better updated and informed than the drivel they fill their paper up with every weekday.

All this leads me to ask the question, Is there a long-term future for Newspapers?

In fact I even feel that the term "Newspaper" is rather misleading, and could be leaving itself open to prosecution under the Trades Description Act. Take the average Daily paper, and just how much actual "News" will you find?
Hidden away amongst the adverts for cars, furniture, and other expensive items, you'll find the odd paragraph here and there of something that could loosely be described as a News Item, but because almost all the papers these days seem to pander to the Lowest Common Denominator, who seem to have the attention span of a Goldfish, a good, well-written article is getting harder and harder to find.

JoJo

Well Sandie my husband would go spare and often does when the morning paper hasn't arrined by 7am if he didn't have a paper to read,I watch the news on the BBC in a morning and often qoute something to him about the headlines,he looks up at me blank WHY? because he starts at the back and works forward,but yes maybe you are right there are so many different ways now of getting the news,so maybe they won't be with us much longer Confused

browneyes

i rushed up and bought the mail on sunday sandie just to get the dvd i havnt seen it yet im saving it untill i get time to watch it on my own but with this non stop rain i cant see my O H going out side for at least another day still its going to be worth waiting for im sure Smile

Sandie Seward

I haven't watched mine either yet, Browneyes, it's still sitting on my desk just begging me to play it. However, I also enjoy films more when I'm alone, not too sure why, unless it's because then there are no interruptions?

browneyes

yes well thats my problem Sandie,when my O H programs are on i have to sit in silence but if i put somthing on like a film that he cant get into he WILL NOT stop talking no matter how many times i tell him to shut up he just cant help himself so i wait till i know iv got at least two hours without him......thats not very often since he stoped work....... then i can put a film or what ever on and know i can sit in peace. Rolling Eyes

dorramae

Don't think local papers could be replaced,it is the act o actualy sitting down and getting totally engrosed in even the most trivial of
items,oblivious of all other goings on.
Sunday morning escape.

Regards the DVD I was not quick enough it was SOLD OUT,
but I have seen the film ages ago, it is great.
Niel Diamond! OOOOOH I would leave home for him..

Ken R

Regarding the headline " Do newspapers have a future ?"

Has anyone ever tried to eat ships out of a CD case ?..............................

it's damn near impossible Laughing

browneyes

browneyes

JoJo

Ken Chips out of newspaper thats going back a bit, Laughing

Ken R

Ken R

browneyes

browneyes

Sandie Seward

Watched my copy of "The Jazz Singer" this evening, Browneyes. Well worth waiting for. Ran it on the DVD drive on my computer, and sat here, and throughly enjoyed it.

Great story, brilliant music, even the Traditional Jewish music lent it's atmosphere to the film.

An excellent "Freebie". Very Happy

browneyes

at the moment Sandie im saving up tokens in the sun for all the "Only Fools And Horses",they are all free just £6.99p for post and package.

Sandie Seward

I have just spent almost a tenner on the complete (12 DVD's) of "Brideshead Revisited". I watched the first episode on a disc that someone gave gave me, and really enjoyed it. I have seen some of the episodes before, but have not watched it all the way through.

Looking forward to it. Smile

marieann

Have you finished them yet? Amazon have a lot off their BBC series dvd's at the moment and I haven't got a Pride and Prejudice dvd. It was a video and I managed to do something to the video player that stopped it working.

Sandie Seward

I have just finished watching Episode Six, (Julia), and I'm throughly enjoying the story.

Well worth the time spent so far. Very Happy

JoJo

I do think the mails offers have been very good value,I have bought about three different series so far, havn't watched that many,but who knows in years to come and I can't get out and about I will have plenty of dvds to watch Smile

marieann

I decided to save the vouchers for 'The World at War' a few weeks ago. I can't remember which newspaper but I bought it the first day and forgot all about it after that so I gave in.

Ken R

It was the Daily Mail Marie, I saved the coupons up and sent off for it and got 26 dvds back ! I've managed to watch about half of them so far and they are every bit as good as I remember from the original TV sereis. I also saved the coupons and got the First World war set as well, but will save them for when I've finished the World at War set.

I think they were both crackin' good offers and will look out for any future ones to save for.

marieann

Hi, Ken, I hope you're ok I'm glad you managed to get them all. Tony enjoyed the series when it was repeated on UK History as well as me. I'll just have to wait until Amazon have a good offer on them.

Ken R

Hi Marie, I reckon it would do no harm to make those sort of series compulsory viewing in schools, how else will the stories carry on in this day and age ? I doubt they will ever be repeated on terrestrial telly again.

Sandie Seward

Ken R

I'm still ploughing my way through the World At War Sandie, and havn't gotten around to the Great War set yet, but I'm really looking forward to it.
This week, the Mail is printing coupons for a set of classic war films, which I'm currently saving for, God knows when I'll actually get around to watching all these films, but I'm a sucker for newspaper offers, especially when they are war films ! Laughing

Sounds like you got a bargain there with your video set Sandie, it does annoy me when people sell goods at a really competitive price and then try and make a fast buck on the P & P ! Evil or Very Mad

marieann

Someone was saying he had "Went the Day Well" and I think from that same offer, Ken. He was delighted, I must admit to thoroughly enjoying that film myself.

marieann

I got Winston Churchill's set of war books for Christmas. Downloaded as e-books so they were reasonably priced. I will have to read the first one, about the lead up to hostilities, twice because I know very little about that part of it. The rest dealing with the actual hostilities wil be familiar enough to follow.

It amazed me how many of his words I had never heard of and had to look up, couldn't even get the meaning from the rest of the sentence, he had a great command of language.