Why aren't we reading newspapers anymore? Julian Novitz, a lecturer in the Department of Media and Communication at Swinburne University of Technology, explains that our attention spans are no longer compatible with weekly or monthly newspapers and magazines.
"Casual readers are less willing to wait for a weekly or monthly print magazine to arrive in the post or on a newsstand. The ready availability of free, or significantly cheaper, digital content may deter them from purchasing print subscriptions or individual issues."
However, even if print magazines and newspapers are experiencing a decline in readership, they're still here. To make print materials interesting, some magazines and newspapers offer something more than just the written word. Recently, people buzzed on social media about the newest issue of Vogue UK that included a stylish notebook. "I don't even use a diary, just gonna get it to stand on my vanity," one person said.
#25 Robert Benchley In The San Francisco Examiner, California, October 22, 1934
That's a nice marketing strategy, of course, but there are other elements at play. Some experts note that people are experiencing "digital fatigue" and want to consume more and more physical media. So, perhaps newspapers and print magazines won't go out of style that quickly.
New Yorker's staff writer Nathan Heller explains the long-lasting appeal of print media like this: "What made magazines appealing in 1720 is the same thing that made them appealing in 1920 and in 2020: a blend of iconoclasm and authority, novelty and continuity, marketability and creativity, social engagement and personal voice."
What do you think of these old newspaper clippings, Pandas? Have they brought you back in time at least a little bit? Or are they just as poignant and relatable as if they were written for a publication today? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! And if you're in the mood, we also have some vintage ads that did not stand the test of time for you to enjoy (or cringe at).
