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Have you stopped buying papers?

(78 Posts)
Cumbrianmale56 Thu 11-Jun-26 13:07:21

I haven't bought a newspaper for over 10 years and only check newspaper websites occasionally. If I want news, I usually get it from news channels or the internet.
I was at a conference yesterday, and a contributor stated that only 22% of people buy a paper now, compared with 67% 30 years ago. He used to work for the Daily Record and said the paper's circulation has fallen by 80% in the last 30 years.
My main reasons for not buying a paper is they're not particularly cheap, with some costing over £ 2 these days, they stick to a very dated Labour vs Conservative outlook, and are too full of articles about things I have no interest in.

Silvershadow Thu 11-Jun-26 13:09:22

We buy one. My DH has some sort of subscription which allows him to buy it at a reduced rate.

ginny Thu 11-Jun-26 13:23:44

We read ours on line.

Judy54 Thu 11-Jun-26 13:23:46

Yes I still have daily papers and enjoy reading them and doing the crossword.

FlexibleFriend Thu 11-Jun-26 13:30:04

I have never bought a newspaper.

Magenta8 Thu 11-Jun-26 13:40:55

I subscribe monthly to the Guardian online. I sometimes pick up an i (Independent) from the corner shop as it is the cheapest newspaper.

I sometimes read the Sun while I am waiting to have my hair cut.

I have never had a paper delivered.

Casdon Thu 11-Jun-26 13:47:20

I buy the local paper, it’s the only way of finding out what’s going on here - everything from the sheep prices to hatches, matches and dispatches, what’s on, who has been prosecuted for not having a TV licence etc. I wouldn’t miss it. It doesn’t cover national news at all, apart from a column monthly by our MP, which occasionally does, where it affects us directly. Sometimes it’s a joy living in a backwater.

Oreo Thu 11-Jun-26 13:48:46

No, don’t buy one regularly as they have become very expensive. I read news online and listen to radio and tv news.

Grannybags Thu 11-Jun-26 13:53:42

I only buy one at the weekend now.

Silvershadow Thu 11-Jun-26 13:57:08

Some may not know but you can download Pressreader via the library and you can read the newspapers free of charge. The same with the Libby app for books and magazines. So useful especially if you’re on holiday and need a book.

Ilovecheese Thu 11-Jun-26 14:00:53

We have the paper delivered every day. We both enjoy reading on paper, it is not cheap though.

Fartooold Thu 11-Jun-26 14:04:12

Daily paper is a must for me, I can lose myself for a while. I do buy it on subscription so it is cheaper.

Greenfinch Thu 11-Jun-26 14:07:12

We just have a paper on Saturday and it takes all week to read it thoroughly. The local newspaper we pick up free at the garden centre.

fluttERBY123 Thu 11-Jun-26 14:08:28

We have always had one delivered and two on Sundays.

Retroladytyping Thu 11-Jun-26 14:36:54

Cumbrianmale56

I haven't bought a newspaper for over 10 years and only check newspaper websites occasionally. If I want news, I usually get it from news channels or the internet.
I was at a conference yesterday, and a contributor stated that only 22% of people buy a paper now, compared with 67% 30 years ago. He used to work for the Daily Record and said the paper's circulation has fallen by 80% in the last 30 years.
My main reasons for not buying a paper is they're not particularly cheap, with some costing over £ 2 these days, they stick to a very dated Labour vs Conservative outlook, and are too full of articles about things I have no interest in.

We've recently stopped for pretty much the same reasons as you. Don't miss it at all.

DianneAngel Thu 11-Jun-26 14:40:20

I only buy a newspaper to put in the cat's litter tray. hugs

Grandmadinosaur Thu 11-Jun-26 14:40:33

I second PressReader and we have recommended it to lots of friends etc.

Gracey Thu 11-Jun-26 14:47:39

I do miss having a newspaper but I tend to read so much online these days so I only buy a weekend paper.
When I was married and the children were small, I had a Sunday routine...The roast would go on for dinner and I'd have a large G&T ( or two!) and sit at the kitchen table reading the paper as it cooked.
We don't cook a Sunday roast very often now but every now and then I'll nip out and get a paper and enjoy reading it with a drink. If I buy a broadsheet with all the supplements it can provide reading throughout the week.

I do prefer getting my info from a paper.

RachelD Thu 11-Jun-26 15:07:36

I stopped having daily deliveries when it became too expensive. I now buy one paperat the weekends. I enjoy that because I can get much more in-depth coverage of a story. The television and online news usually covers the basics.
I can also indulge myself with a difficult crossword in the newspaper that might not be online.

Knitter43 Thu 11-Jun-26 15:50:54

I never thought I would give up on printed newspapers but two things made me do it. The first was that the newsagent stopped delivering and secondly I bought an ipad and am now able to access newspapers via a free Press Reader subscription through my local library. The choice is great. Also as I age I was finding it increasingly harder to carry the papers out for recycling so win win!

Treebee Thu 11-Jun-26 19:11:08

We have a subscription to The Times and The Sunday Times. We have access to it online but we buy the paper with the vouchers they send. DH also buys the i paper. We both enjoy reading the hard copy, and we do the crossword and codeword. The app is helpful when I get stuck on the codeword.

M0nica Thu 11-Jun-26 19:37:14

We buy two. DM and i. Sunday we buy Observer and Mail on Sunday. Newspapers are one of our little luxuries. We also buy local papers and magazines.

58JJ Thu 11-Jun-26 19:51:53

I don’t buy newspapers or magazines anymore. I have an online subscription for various publications through Apple News and for the latest updates use the internet. By the time you get the paper the news article has moved on or developed.

TwiceAsNice Thu 11-Jun-26 20:14:27

We buy the Times, Telegraph, and Mail on a Saturday . I am mocked by my girls for the Mail but I enjoy the articles on a Saturday. My daughter has an online subscription for the Telegraph in the week but I haven’t got time to read them in the week I still work part time and volunteer/meet friends etc. I’d rather have a book on the go as well

BlueSapphire Thu 11-Jun-26 20:15:35

I have a subscription to the Telegraph, both print and online. I love having a print copy delivered daily and could not do without it.