Why I don’t mind ‘paying for the news‘

It’s a complaint I’ve seen and heard many times: “I can’t read this article because they want me to pay for it,” or some variation of it.

I think it’s human nature to want as many things as we can get for free, but when I think about it, I don’t mind paying a few dollars a month for a newspaper subscription — and you shouldn’t, either.

Before I say anything else, I’ll admit I’m a little biased on this one. I started working in the newspaper industry more than 20 years ago, so that probably tends to make me pro-newspaper.

But I also have several good reasons for supporting print journalism, even if it does cost a few bucks to read it. Here are some of them.

1) It doesn’t cost that much to “pay for the news.” A digital subscription to this newspaper is only $7.50 per month, which is cheaper than a meal at many fast-food restaurants. For example, a Big Mac with fries and a drink costs $8.69 at McDonald’s. A meal at a sit-down restaurant costs even more. When I think about it, paying $7.50 once a month to read the DAR on your phone, tablet or computer doesn’t sound so bad.

2) If you want to know what’s going on where you live, read the paper. I know some might say, “Why pay to read the paper when I can watch the local news for free?” The answer to that question is pretty simple: your local TV station is probably not coming to town to cover your local city council or local school board unless something really big is happening.

The DAR regularly covers the Poplar Bluff city council and also covers all three school boards in Butler County, plus the Three Rivers College Board of Trustees.

Coverage of those governing bodies serves at least two purposes. First, it provides much-needed accountability for those bodies. And second, it keeps the public informed about what is going on with the City of Poplar Bluff, the local school districts and the local college district.

That’s very important here in Butler County. The decisions those governing bodies make often affect you and me more than what happens on Capitol Hill.

3) If you really want to know what is going on with an issue, read a newspaper. So many times, the evening news gives the “Reader’s Digest” version of a news story, in part because there’s only so much that can fit into a 30-minute broadcast.

I think newspapers tend to go more in depth and provide readers more information when it comes to the events and the issues of the day. In the tumultuous times we live in, that’s very important.

4) There’s a good chance you’re “paying for the news” already. Unless you’re one of the few people that exclusively watches television using an antenna and eschews cable, satellite and/or live streaming services, you’re already paying to watch the local news or national evening news.

If you’re already paying to do that, why not pay a few more dollars a month subscribe to your local paper and stay on top of what’s going on where you live?

5) Last but not least, it costs money to do what we do. While print journalism is a calling for many of us, it’s also how we pay our bills, fill up our gas tanks and put food on our table.

“Covering the news of the day costs money,” said Joey Young, former president of the Kansas Press Association and publisher of several newspapers in central Kansas. “It takes resources to employ a professional reporter, buy equipment, maintain a printed paper and website, and basics like turning the lights on every day.”

So the next time you click on an article and it wants you to subscribe before you can read it, go for it. I think you’ll find it is worth it.

Mike Buhler is a staff writer for the Daily American Republic. Contact him at mbuhler.dar@gmail.com.