Yesterday's News
05/28/2009There is no doubt that everyone is suffering in this economy, and those conditions combined with technology could quite possibly rid the country of the corner newspaper vending machine.
CNN online had an article on this very situation over the holiday weekend. The article cited a significant, and incre
asing, decrease in the number of newspaper vending machines across the country. Some of the decline is attributed to offering home delivery on several of the national papers, but I can’t imagine that online availability isn’t cutting into those sales to some degree. I never used to subscribe to the newspaper, but years ago did make a Sunday morning visit to the machine on the corner across from my old apartment building. I will be the first to admit that I took the convenience for granted, and was always a little irritated when my venture ended up fruitless because the day’s supply had already been purchased. I did, and still do, get a good portion of my news online or while driving, but there is something very relaxing about flipping through the newsprint. Would something else take over, besides simply going to websites and downloading on Kindle?
I now enjoy delivery of the Sunday paper, and have a hard time believing rumors that my usual weekend morning ritual may be no more in the near future. Then, I hear of established newspapers going paperless during my morning drive to the office. Maybe it’s not as far off as I think?
christine.papesch@veii.com
