Long before scrolling, people read newspapers. Did that make them closer to their community? Perhaps, especially if it is a local paper. Maybe what we read in our “feed” is about the world “out there” and not right next door, and that makes the difference? In any case, hooray for newspapers!📰
Louise, what an interesting take, I really like it. It makes sense, what we read in our printed papers, local or national, is vastly about what happens near us, rather than out there. As I called US home for a few years, I'm very much in touch with all the news there, culture, book launches, etc. which could not be more distant from the local Catalan world I live in here. Spot on!
Sort of near Sant Cugat. Looking at Google Maps, everything in/near Barcelona has changed so much since I was there! But they still have La Vanguardia (and Radio Catalunya). 😉
I’d love to go back for a visit and to see old friends. I was toying with the idea of doing a PhD, and my research topic would take me there, but it doesn’t seem like that’s in the cards. 🫤 I’m sure I wouldn’t recognize it! Enjoy it for me, ok? 😉
I remember buying my local newspaper after a big demonstration (back in the day I was known for skipping high school for ideological reasons and demonstrate with university students) just to see if journalists took a photo of me or if I could get away with 'sick absence' for the day prior.
I love this. My dad worked for a local newspaper for many years. My parents actually met working on their university’s student newspaper. I grew up with newspapers always around, always being read. My dad has also talked about the beauty of the organized finitude of analog newspapers. I miss that local, real-world feeling, too. There’s something special about words on paper — it’s why I can’t move from books to an e-reader. 😊
Oh, really? That sounds like an idyllic childhood for me, and surely it shaped your intellectual development and your current writing. I'm rediscovering the local real-world feeling, after travelling around the world.😊
I also don't own an e-reader and don't plan to. There is nothing like the smell of books!
Newspapers, just like books, are nostalgic of what reading means. There singular mind focus of not only reading but also reflecting. When you underlined some parts, be sure to return. At home, I still have Newspapers dating 10 years ago and it's nostalgic reading them. I hope we can do to that direction going forward
How interesting that you keep old newspapers, especially from decades ago. It's true that reading on paper invites us to reflect, not just rush to the next page. You should see my books, all underlined for future browsing. :)
That's funny, just last week I ran into a friend here in Barcelona carrying a newspaper and it caught me off guard, it's so rare to see anyone our age holding an actual newspaper 😂 I like what you said there at the end about feeling connected to the community, that's a good point.
Maybe there is a trend shaping up right under our eyes here! Our next Barcelona Substack meetup could require each person entering the bar with a paper under their arm. 😊
Monica, this is great. I love the tactile nature of newspapers, magazines, and books. I have one magazine that I subscribe to that arrives quarterly. When it arrives in my mailbox I sit in my chair and read it from cover to cover. One of life's simple pleasures. The picture of you stirring the pot of paella is great!
Lovely writing as always and such keen observations, Monica. As an avid reader both of books and newspapers, it took me a while to switch to digital and now that I have, I do find it a tad bit difficult to go back to the physical form. I received a physical book recently as a gift, and I kid you not, as a reflex I “long pressed” a word to highlight it before coming to my senses 😅🙈
Hmm interesting that you find it difficult to switch back to physical form. I never tried reading books digitally, never had an e-reader; I only read them in paper format. For news it's different, as we consume practically just the titles a little more, the digital format works.
Hahaha carrying digital habits on paper is hilarious!😅 I caught myself once trying to "zoom in" with 2 fingers on a book, as you do on the phone.....
I had a newspaper subscription (Die Zeit) when I was finishing high school and later on I had a digital subscription but never read anything online. I don’t enjoy it as much.
Subscription doesn’t make sense to me, I wouldn’t read a high quality weekly paper, it’s almost a full time job as it’s so much more than the latest news…
Guess that why we have substack because barely anyone prints print media.
My dad always cuts out articles we have to read, he sends them by letter or brings them along on the next visit. 😅
I wrote my dissertation on how a migrant group in the UK was depicted in British media around Brexit. The news still play a huge role in influencing society and our discourse
Ohhh how interesting! I also had a relative who cut a bunch of opinion articles from newspapers and gave them to me when I was in my first year at uni, studying journalism. AND I also wrote my dissertation on something similar... how racism and ethnocentrism was depicted in the US vs European media. 😱 It looks like we have more things in common than we thought!
I totally agree that reading the paper weekly is about so much more than the daily news. I don't even follow the daily news, honestly. I'm interested in the analyses, the opinion pieces... Reading Die Zeit in print, on a Sunday with a good coffee, in a Munich square or park sounds like a good idea to me. 😊
It’s funny that’s what popped into my mind, along with the papelerías. I’ll have to have a look and perhaps buy one. Albeit I don’t like the news I wonder if the newspaper takes the shock value out of it. 🧐
I don't read/watch the news either, but a print newspaper is so much more than that! It lacks the bombastic/dramatic nature of tv or digital news, it's an experience, I tell you. 😅
I feel inspired by you! I remember my first year in Spain renting m a room from a couple who recommended reading the news paper for new vocabulary. Perhaps I could take their tip up now!
I love the peanuts vs. paella analogy! Now that I think about it, I can't remember the last time I read a physical newspaper. As a kid, I remember getting SO excited (mainly to look through the comics section) when my small town's 2x/weekly paper would get delivered. That anticipation is gone now that we have so much information readily available. Your experienced inspired me to buy my city's newspaper and sit in a coffee shop to read it on a weekend afternoon. Really resonated with what you said about the newspaper connecting us with our community, and it's so true!
Thanks, Brina, I'm glad it resonated with you. Buying a print newspaper and reading through it is an entire experience. It goes way beyond "reading the news". I remember when we'd get a newspaper as kids too, it brought something novel every time. Give it a try!
This is so odd as I have just started always getting a newspaper everytime I'm in the airport. Love reading it on the plane for some reason...getting old! 😅
This was so perceptive about the physical pleasures of a week newspaper (although I admit I've never been wild about the filthy hands aspect, and was rather glad when they changed the inks...). And your fast food analogy is brilliant!
La Vanguardia! Brings back memories… 🙃
Long before scrolling, people read newspapers. Did that make them closer to their community? Perhaps, especially if it is a local paper. Maybe what we read in our “feed” is about the world “out there” and not right next door, and that makes the difference? In any case, hooray for newspapers!📰
Louise, what an interesting take, I really like it. It makes sense, what we read in our printed papers, local or national, is vastly about what happens near us, rather than out there. As I called US home for a few years, I'm very much in touch with all the news there, culture, book launches, etc. which could not be more distant from the local Catalan world I live in here. Spot on!
Where in Spain did you live?
Sort of near Sant Cugat. Looking at Google Maps, everything in/near Barcelona has changed so much since I was there! But they still have La Vanguardia (and Radio Catalunya). 😉
Ohhh ok, very close to Barcelona then. Yeah, things changed a lot lately, especially since the pandemic.
I’d love to go back for a visit and to see old friends. I was toying with the idea of doing a PhD, and my research topic would take me there, but it doesn’t seem like that’s in the cards. 🫤 I’m sure I wouldn’t recognize it! Enjoy it for me, ok? 😉
A PhD sounds interesting! Enjoying it in small doses, as I also moved out of the city into a suburb by the beach. :)
Loved Sitges. Also have friends up the coast a bit. Beautiful up there!
I remember buying my local newspaper after a big demonstration (back in the day I was known for skipping high school for ideological reasons and demonstrate with university students) just to see if journalists took a photo of me or if I could get away with 'sick absence' for the day prior.
Hahah this is a great story, Barbs!! Maybe worthy of a post? :)
Haha don't give me ideas;)
I love this. My dad worked for a local newspaper for many years. My parents actually met working on their university’s student newspaper. I grew up with newspapers always around, always being read. My dad has also talked about the beauty of the organized finitude of analog newspapers. I miss that local, real-world feeling, too. There’s something special about words on paper — it’s why I can’t move from books to an e-reader. 😊
Oh, really? That sounds like an idyllic childhood for me, and surely it shaped your intellectual development and your current writing. I'm rediscovering the local real-world feeling, after travelling around the world.😊
I also don't own an e-reader and don't plan to. There is nothing like the smell of books!
Newspapers, just like books, are nostalgic of what reading means. There singular mind focus of not only reading but also reflecting. When you underlined some parts, be sure to return. At home, I still have Newspapers dating 10 years ago and it's nostalgic reading them. I hope we can do to that direction going forward
How interesting that you keep old newspapers, especially from decades ago. It's true that reading on paper invites us to reflect, not just rush to the next page. You should see my books, all underlined for future browsing. :)
Sure. I will check on your books. Thanks
That's funny, just last week I ran into a friend here in Barcelona carrying a newspaper and it caught me off guard, it's so rare to see anyone our age holding an actual newspaper 😂 I like what you said there at the end about feeling connected to the community, that's a good point.
Maybe there is a trend shaping up right under our eyes here! Our next Barcelona Substack meetup could require each person entering the bar with a paper under their arm. 😊
Loved your analytic vision on this phenomenon. Lovely writing. 🩵
Oh thank you, dear Manu! 🩵🩵
Monica, this is great. I love the tactile nature of newspapers, magazines, and books. I have one magazine that I subscribe to that arrives quarterly. When it arrives in my mailbox I sit in my chair and read it from cover to cover. One of life's simple pleasures. The picture of you stirring the pot of paella is great!
Thanks, Matthew! Yes, reading on paper is truly one of life's pleasures!
Lovely writing as always and such keen observations, Monica. As an avid reader both of books and newspapers, it took me a while to switch to digital and now that I have, I do find it a tad bit difficult to go back to the physical form. I received a physical book recently as a gift, and I kid you not, as a reflex I “long pressed” a word to highlight it before coming to my senses 😅🙈
Hmm interesting that you find it difficult to switch back to physical form. I never tried reading books digitally, never had an e-reader; I only read them in paper format. For news it's different, as we consume practically just the titles a little more, the digital format works.
Hahaha carrying digital habits on paper is hilarious!😅 I caught myself once trying to "zoom in" with 2 fingers on a book, as you do on the phone.....
Such a good share! Thank you!
I had a newspaper subscription (Die Zeit) when I was finishing high school and later on I had a digital subscription but never read anything online. I don’t enjoy it as much.
Subscription doesn’t make sense to me, I wouldn’t read a high quality weekly paper, it’s almost a full time job as it’s so much more than the latest news…
Guess that why we have substack because barely anyone prints print media.
My dad always cuts out articles we have to read, he sends them by letter or brings them along on the next visit. 😅
I wrote my dissertation on how a migrant group in the UK was depicted in British media around Brexit. The news still play a huge role in influencing society and our discourse
Ohhh how interesting! I also had a relative who cut a bunch of opinion articles from newspapers and gave them to me when I was in my first year at uni, studying journalism. AND I also wrote my dissertation on something similar... how racism and ethnocentrism was depicted in the US vs European media. 😱 It looks like we have more things in common than we thought!
I totally agree that reading the paper weekly is about so much more than the daily news. I don't even follow the daily news, honestly. I'm interested in the analyses, the opinion pieces... Reading Die Zeit in print, on a Sunday with a good coffee, in a Munich square or park sounds like a good idea to me. 😊
I realised the other day, I don’t even know where to buy a newspaper 🫣😱
That's exactly what I realized yesterday too. But I did find out the Tabac shops sell them, at least up here.😊
It’s funny that’s what popped into my mind, along with the papelerías. I’ll have to have a look and perhaps buy one. Albeit I don’t like the news I wonder if the newspaper takes the shock value out of it. 🧐
I don't read/watch the news either, but a print newspaper is so much more than that! It lacks the bombastic/dramatic nature of tv or digital news, it's an experience, I tell you. 😅
I feel inspired by you! I remember my first year in Spain renting m a room from a couple who recommended reading the news paper for new vocabulary. Perhaps I could take their tip up now!
I love the peanuts vs. paella analogy! Now that I think about it, I can't remember the last time I read a physical newspaper. As a kid, I remember getting SO excited (mainly to look through the comics section) when my small town's 2x/weekly paper would get delivered. That anticipation is gone now that we have so much information readily available. Your experienced inspired me to buy my city's newspaper and sit in a coffee shop to read it on a weekend afternoon. Really resonated with what you said about the newspaper connecting us with our community, and it's so true!
Thanks, Brina, I'm glad it resonated with you. Buying a print newspaper and reading through it is an entire experience. It goes way beyond "reading the news". I remember when we'd get a newspaper as kids too, it brought something novel every time. Give it a try!
This is so odd as I have just started always getting a newspaper everytime I'm in the airport. Love reading it on the plane for some reason...getting old! 😅
Hahha it does feel a bit old fashioned, but I vote for retaking good habits we forgot when the social internet deluge buried us.
This was so perceptive about the physical pleasures of a week newspaper (although I admit I've never been wild about the filthy hands aspect, and was rather glad when they changed the inks...). And your fast food analogy is brilliant!
Thank you! Yeah, I'm also not crazy about the ink, but after quite a few years of not holding a paper, it was fun.