The Printed Word
By
Gerry Niskern
His alarm went off at 4:30 A. M. every day. The bundles of newspaper were dropped off at the corner of 2lst Ave and Adams, beside Jim’s Chinese Market, at 5:00 A. M. and he was there, on his bike, waiting. As the station manager, he counted out each boy’s share as they slowly arrived. The young paper carriers sat and folder each paper into a compact form. If the newspaper wasn’t folded right it wouldn’t reach the front porch. And if you didn’t “porch it” every single time, there would be no tip on collection day!
That young station manager alone delivered 300 plus papers in the morning and 250 plus of the evening paper in the afternoon . The newspaper those boys delivered years ago had all kinds of news that you don’t get today, if you are only reading digital. Sure you can get the online paper of your choice, but do you really read it? Most people get the highlights in sound bites of local, state and national news on television or in another digital form. They only meet people running for national office after they have climbed the local political ladder. Only in the local newspaper do you learn about their personal history and character from the grassroots level.
The authenticity and credibility of local newspapers help maintain the morale and harmony of our society. If your local paper is conservative or liberal, it doesn’t matter. You will still find articles to help you become an informed citizen.
Here’s three good examples of local news in The Arizona Republic this past Wednesday. Two companies, Dish Network and Finance Buzz are offering people a chance to get paid to watch scary movies! Two Arizona cities, Phoenix and Mesa are committing to the American Rescue Plan to address homelessness. The state was allocated 4 billion to help build lasting and transforming change in peoples lives, in one of many parts, by providing housing. Another in-depth article covering the actions of our Arizona governor when the twelve licenses for online Sports betting were awarded.
In other words, there’s something new everyday on the local level. That’s where it all starts. Subscribe to your local paper. Really. You Should!