The Internet: the Cause of the Death of Newspapers
Agree:
I was a news carrier from 1982-1983. This was my first job as a young teenager. My brother and I would troop through both good and bad weather to deliver newspapers all over my neighborhood in a suburb of NY. We delivered about 50 papers a day during the week and 75 on Saturday.
I am actually surprised that I remember delivering the paper so vividly, considering how long ago it was. What I remember most was that we put the newspaper exactly where the customer wanted it. Some customers had boxes. Some wanted us to put it in their screen door. Others wanted the paper under their mat. We remembered where each paper should go and put it in place. In addition with that we collected our fees from the customers directly, even if it meant stalking some customers who wanted papers, but never seemed to have the funds to pay for them. Delivering the newspaper was a personal experience and out customers appreciated it.
Fast forward 26 years and Newspapers as we know it are dying. Many blame the Internet as people can get news fast, and can find and read lifestyle and sports articles on command. While there is some truth in that, I have to wonder if Newspaper companies themselves did not have a hand in their own demise. I know as a newspaper delivery customer, I had many frustrations that sent me to the Internet for my news.
It started around the year 2000. I was living in a New Orleans suburb at the time and subscribed to a newspaper. What you need to understand about New Orleans is that there is a heavy dew and fog every morning at dawn. This mean that newspapers delivered during this time would end up completely wet and soggy. I called. I asked. I cajoled. I did and said everything I could to try and get a newspaper delivered that was actually readable. All I wanted was the same service I had given as an adolescent paper carrier. Was it too much to ask that the paper be placed inside of my screen door where it would be dry, or even on my sidewalk where it had a better
I was a news carrier from 1982-1983. This was my first job as a young teenager. My brother and I would troop through both good and bad weather to deliver newspapers all over my neighborhood in a suburb of NY. We delivered about 50 papers a day during the week and 75 on Saturday.
I am actually surprised that I remember delivering the paper so vividly, considering how long ago it was. What I remember most was that we put the newspaper exactly where the customer wanted it. Some customers had boxes. Some wanted us to put it in their screen door. Others wanted the paper under their mat. We remembered where each paper should go and put it in place. In addition with that we collected our fees from the customers directly, even if it meant stalking some customers who wanted papers, but never seemed to have the funds to pay for them. Delivering the newspaper was a personal experience and out customers appreciated it.
Fast forward 26 years and Newspapers as we know it are dying. Many blame the Internet as people can get news fast, and can find and read lifestyle and sports articles on command. While there is some truth in that, I have to wonder if Newspaper companies themselves did not have a hand in their own demise. I know as a newspaper delivery customer, I had many frustrations that sent me to the Internet for my news.
It started around the year 2000. I was living in a New Orleans suburb at the time and subscribed to a newspaper. What you need to understand about New Orleans is that there is a heavy dew and fog every morning at dawn. This mean that newspapers delivered during this time would end up completely wet and soggy. I called. I asked. I cajoled. I did and said everything I could to try and get a newspaper delivered that was actually readable. All I wanted was the same service I had given as an adolescent paper carrier. Was it too much to ask that the paper be placed inside of my screen door where it would be dry, or even on my sidewalk where it had a better