I know what it’s like to go without a newspaper. For over 20 years, we went South in the winter to islands where we couldn’t buy a metropolitan newspaper. Yes, we had the internet, and could access the stories in our local paper at home. But it wasn’t the same at all. Each morning, when we had our coffee, we tried to pretend it didn’t matter. We turned on the Today Show, and surfed the net. But there was a great big void at the beginning of our day. Here are 9 reasons to take the newspaper.

Reading a newspaper in print is more leisurely that online — THE BEST WAY TO START THE DAY IS WITH A PRINT EDITION OF YOUR FAVORITE NEWSPAPER.

1. They’re easier on the eyes. Black and white newsprint on paper has no damaging UV light from a computer or cellphone

2. It’s more relaxing to lean back in your recliner and flip through the pages vs. sitting at a computer or holding an i phone.

3.. You’re better informed. Reading a news story of three or four columns gives you an in depth view of what’s really going on with this particular situation. Yes, you could read it all on your computer, but you probably will read only two or three paragraphs before shifting to the next headline.

4. The funnies. There are three or four comic strips I really like. But if I have plenty of time and nothing much to do, I’m apt to find a few others.

5. The advice columns. I find these columnists immensely amusing. Why do people ask advice when the answer is so obvious?f. It’s fun to mentally put in your own two cents. And sometimes, you can clip a column that hits home and send it on to a relative or friend.

6. Sharing. My husband and I discuss the different news stories, and pass them back and forth to point out what one of us may have missed.

7. The Bridge column and the puzzles. These games are a fun way to challenge your brain.

8. Advertisements. Unlike television, you can pick and choose the ones that interest you. Yes, you can go online to find the supermarket ads. But it’s much pleasanter to go through them in the newspaper. And then, on Sundays, there are the coupons! And, if you’re interested, you can peruse the real estate ads and check out home values in your area.

9. More bang for your buck. You can read a $5 issue of People Magazine in 5 minutes. But you can easily find an hour’s worth of reading material in a dollar newspaper.

Believe it or not, we take two newspapers at our house, which gives us a different perspective. Besides, it’s nice to see what’s going on in Indianapolis where my daughter lives with her family. Many local newspapers are going out of business. But we hope ours doesn’t.

Viva La Newspapers!

Why do people buy newspapers today? Simple. It’s because they like the feel of a newspaper, the leisurely way you can skip back and forth between different stories. It’s not at all the same as online reading. And so, it was a big disappointment when the Indianapolis Star announced that it’s owner, Gannett Company, will no longer send us the USA today section we’ve grown accustomed to. Help! Our newspaper is shrinking.

I realize that real, paper, newspapers have been losing money for years. The reason, of course, is the internet. As an example, classified ads used to bring in some money to help run the paper. But most people use Craigslist if they’re looking for an apartment or household services. It’s free to the seller and buyer alike!

We have had two newspapers delivered to our door for over 30 years. Our local paper for the obits, advertising, local events, city politics, and general gossip. For more in depth coverage of national news and broader interests, we’ve always loved the Indy Star. While on winter vacations in Texas, Ga., and Florida, we never found a metropolitan newspaper more to our liking, with its common sense reporting and intelligent editorials. And since my daughter lives in Indy —and doesn’t take the paper—I often know more about what’s going on in her city than she and her family do.

Reading newspapers online isn't nearly as satisfying

ONE OF LIFE’S SIMPLE PLEASURES IS READING THE MORNING PAPER OVER A CUP OF COFFEE

As retirees, one of our simple pleasures is having a morning cup of coffee while poring over the newspapers. My husband loves all the funnies, and has even converted me to a couple of them. We both enjoy the bridge columns. He likes the jumble.

Often, we spend the better part of an hour rattling the papers and discussing different news stories. Sometimes, one of us will miss a story until the other asks what we thought of it. We may pass the newspapers back and forth two or three times to make sure we’ve covered everything.

So now, our paper will be thinner, with the elimination of the USA today section. I hope this isn’t a portent of things to come, but I’m afraid it is. Reading the newspapers online is not the same experience, at all. You can’t absorb it in depth, or pass it back and forth. And if you have achy fingers or carpel tunnel, it can be painful reading long articles on your smartphone.

All we can hope is that our newspapers won’t leave this world until after we do.

Tag: morning newspaper

9 REASONS TO TAKE THE NEWSPAPER

HELP! OUR NEWSPAPER IS SHRINKING

Often, we spend the better part of an hour rattling the papers and discussing different news stories. Sometimes, one of us will miss a story until the other asks what we thought of it. We may pass the newspapers back and forth two or three times to make sure we’ve covered everything.