Newspapers - do people still read them?

 Newspapers

What does a newspaper mean to us?

Why do we read the newspaper?

Different people have different reasons to read the newspaper. Of course , the most important being ,”to stay informed”.

Some people use newspapers to improve their language and vocabulary while a few read the paper to develop better analytical skills.

Whatever the reason maybe, it is a commonly accepted fact that the popularity of newspapers is declining, especially amongst the younger generation.

 What does the newspaper mean to me?

Newspaper and tea are my early morning companions.

The rustle of fresh paper, front page headline followed by the crossword puzzle, word jumble, loop the loop and many more, are what makes the paper so interesting and something to look forward to each day.

The detailed editorials present many  differing perspectives on current affairs, cultural and social issues, ports, financial trends, etc.

Keeping in mind , the various benefits, I try to encourage my students to read the newspaper every day. But verbal commands and cues are not enough.

I order 6 newspapers for my Boarding house. Earlier, there were just one or two students who would be reading them newspaper. It dismayed me that most of the newspapers were left untouched.

So, I cut out articles which I think, would interest the students and pin them on the notice boards. Later, during the day, I try to initiate conversation about these articles.

I have been doing this for the past few months.

But lately, I noticed a group of students , made it a point to come down early , before  morning assembly, to read the paper and at  times some  students would  want to carry the newspaper to their rooms to be able to read it at leisure.

I was happy that I have been able to generate this interest in my wards which , I am sure, would make them more aware of what is happening in the world and in their neighbourhood. Not just that, they would be able to take more informed decisions about various life style choices and be able to have informed opinions.

Another positive trend which I noticed was that with a growing interest in reading, be it newspaper or anything else, students willingly spent time away from their electronic gadgets and utilised this time in a more constructive and useful manner.