About a year ago, I subscribed to the weekend edition of my local newspaper. It’s been a great way to stay informed, and it’s kept me focused primarily on my community. I can’t recommend reading your local paper enough.
Unlike online news, with its overwhelming volume, a physical newspaper is finite. I spend an hour or so reading the paper each week, and that’s it. No rabbit holes, no distractions.
A local newspaper also stays focused on the concerns of my community. Sure, there’s plenty of interesting stuff happening at the national and global levels, but it doesn’t impact me as directly as local issues do. What’s more, I can have a greater impact on local issues than larger-scale ones. (Local papers of course report some national and global news, too, just not nearly as much.)
I’m especially enjoying my newspaper subscription this election season. In past years, I’d typically do a batch of research right before voting in an effort to make informed decisions, but it was always rushed and painful. This year, I’ve been able to read about local politics every week, usually with both sides’ views included; my opinions are both more nuanced and better informed than they’ve been before.
Finally, subscribing to my local paper gives me the opportunity to support good journalism in my community. I’m happy to pay $14 per month for that.
If you can afford to spend a few bucks a month, consider subscribing to your local newspaper. I highly recommend it.