Before doing this weeks readings I never even thought about how much goes into producing a newspaper article. I always imagined the classic office going crazy with papers flying and phones ringing scenes in movies and television shows, but never gave it enough thought. Newspapers were one of the key places to get your information and happenings on the world and still is for most people. Its also interesting to think about how much the newspaper persuaded people in how to think because it was their main source of information, especially which newspaper you read.

The very first form of a newspaper was created by Julius Caesar in 59 B.C. to inform the public about important social and political events. Before the printing press it was hard for information to get around, especially because most people didn’t even know how to read! In 1440 Johannes Gutenberg in Germany invented the printing press which was able to print over 3,000 pages a day compared to the handwritten 40 pages a day, but enough about old ancient history!

The newspaper has developed into a super major source of mass media. They travel all over the country spreading news and major events. Its crazy to think about how many things have been filled into newspapers to seem more appealing to almost every audience there is. There’s the basic news sections where you can learn on day to day things happening in the country, there’s a sports section for those who might’ve missed a game or event, there are crosswords and word searches and other puzzles to keep the viewer more interested and keep up there brain muscles active, and there are even cartoons so kids can start being interested about reading the news! Though, since technology has advanced highly over the years, is the newspaper something of the past?

Nowadays the television is a much more popular outlet to be informed than the newspaper. In the interview with David Simon he talks about the times when he was a reporter for a newspaper in Baltimore and never even had television on his mind, then ended up working for television for over 10 years. Simon also discussed how the newspaper business as a reporter is ruthless with having the high expectations to find the best stories. He had to pick and choose between different things he could potentially make into a headline. When Simon talks about working for HBO he brings up how they had to pick certain characters to be in certain scenes so the viewers would enjoy the show better. Simon discusses how mostly rich white people get murdered on shows like Law and Order, “They’re protecting the franchise. Those stories are more interesting to the white consumerist audiences coveted by advertising executives. The truth is that violence follows economic deprivation. The vast majority of murders have to do with people who don’t have a lot. They’re chasing after the scraps falling off the table.” This helps shows almost a similarity with newspaper and television considering both make adjustments to what they are presenting that make the viewers enjoy the media more.

In present day I almost never see people reading the newspaper, maybe only my grandparents occasionally. There are so many other ways to receive news and important information than sitting and reading a newspaper. The news and ads scream at us all day long on our devices popping up over and over again, does this mean we need newspapers to keep us from our heads exploding? or do we just stop wasting money on it and throw it away because we already have so many other outlets? Are newspapers a thing of the past, or will they stay relevant for a few more years until another new technological form of media takes it over? Do you read the paper or even touch a paper on the regular?