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Have you stopped buying papers?

(79 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.

Redrobin51 Thu 11-Jun-26 21:20:11

We have The Times on subscription as it makes it much cheaper. If we are on holiday and can't get a paper I somehow feel bereft.

M0nica Thu 11-Jun-26 23:03:05

58JJ

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.

That is not entirely accurate. Whileonline can give you the summary for the uptodate nes on an event. the information they give is often not more than a few sentences. A newspaper will give a full account of the event so that you fully understand it when you start relying on news clips to keep you up to date and later a newspaper will do wide ranging back up articles from special correspondents and experts.

It is the depth and richness of news reporting in newspaper, and just dropped in fron of your eyes without having t look for it.

twiglet77 Thu 11-Jun-26 23:55:38

I have seldom bought a paper since Waitrose stopped it as a benefit with yheir loyalty card. I pick up their own free paper every couple of weeks, which comes in on Thursdays and runs out by Saturday lunchtime, and save them for lighting the fire!

Padstow13 Fri 12-Jun-26 00:44:23

Yes. It's much more cost-effective to have a subscription to the digital Guardian.

The traditional paper newspaper is pretty much out-of-date as soon as it's printed because news events move so fast.

Besides, it galls me to see guys at the newspaper stand in Sainsbury leafing through the papers and then putting a well-thumbed copy back on the pile. You wouldn't open a packet of biscuits, eat a couple and then put the remains of the packet back on the supermarket shelf - without paying!

Chocolatelovinggran Fri 12-Jun-26 08:43:53

I buy the Guardian on Saturday and read it through the weekend. I prefer print to digital and like the articles which give me some analysis of events .
My children never buy a newspaper. All of them rely on Radio Four for news, including the one who lives abroad.

glammagran Fri 12-Jun-26 08:52:23

We have had an online Times subscription for many years. However, the tech behind it is woeful as it is forever crashing, loading the wrong comments for articles etc, etc. DH took out a Telegraph subscription last year so now we have two. 🤷‍♀️

Floradora9 Fri 12-Jun-26 21:37:15

glammagran

We have had an online Times subscription for many years. However, the tech behind it is woeful as it is forever crashing, loading the wrong comments for articles etc, etc. DH took out a Telegraph subscription last year so now we have two. 🤷‍♀️

We have red the Times online for years and never had a problem with it . Online reading means you get to read your UK news wherever you are .

Witzend Fri 12-Jun-26 22:11:15

We still have The Times and the Sunday Times delivered. Dh took out a subscription for both some years ago.

Soozikinzi Sat 13-Jun-26 13:42:09

I read the papers on my free borrowbox account with the local library

davannh Sat 13-Jun-26 13:44:55

The problem with just getting the news from the television is that it is quite often biased. For a more broad spectrum of news I use Press Reader which allows me to read a variety of opinions across both left and right political views.

TillyTrotter Sat 13-Jun-26 13:45:33

I quite like a Sunday newspaper with free magazine but it would be DH who bought it as I never would.
You can read all the news you like online these days.

Rocketstop2 Sat 13-Jun-26 13:46:58

Only on a Saturday for the week's TV guide, mind you, shouldn't have bothered this week as it's mainly football !

beachcomber76 Sat 13-Jun-26 14:09:12

I buy one on a Saturday as it has the weeks TV in it.

I never buy the local weekly paper as for 30 years I've lived in this area it reports on local events after they've taken place!

And very, very rarely does it print info of the aforementioned events beforehand so we can go! We see lovely photos of locals enjoying things we have had no knowledge of, afterwards - it's so frustrating!

I know they don't [despite complaints] as I buy a paper now and then to check.

Megwich Sat 13-Jun-26 14:09:45

If you are in the Uk and belong to a library, you can have newspapers and magazines free on your iPad . Just needs your Library number and a password- which the library will give you. Happy reading😊

CaroleLM16 Sat 13-Jun-26 14:11:50

I have the Guardian delivered on a Saturday and the Observer on a Friday, Private Eye is delivered every two weeks and I subscribe to the Guardian online for my daily news fix. I also use Press Reader on my iPad which is absolutely fantastic - any paper or magazine from the UK all around the world and best of all free with a library membership. I do like a printed copy at weekends though.

CaroleLM16 Sat 13-Jun-26 14:13:35

*That’s Sunday for the Observer I don’t know why I typed Friday!

cc Sat 13-Jun-26 14:18:51

Silvershadow

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

We used to have a subscription which was much less expensive than paying daily, but when looked at taking one out again it cost more or less the same. Now we just get a paper when it's convenient to pick one up, my husband watches the news online or listens to the radio. I do miss the puzzles, though I've taken out a cheap subscription for just the puzzles they're not the same as the ones in the daily paper.

Violetbynight Sat 13-Jun-26 14:22:40

We usually look at the news online, unless we’re out and will occasionally pick up The Guardian or the I which used to have an independent political viewpoint. The other papers are too biased politically.

libra10 Sat 13-Jun-26 14:26:25

I also use PressReader for reading newspapers and magazines.

There is so much advertising in the papers, and PressReader is a great resource.

Essexgirl145 Sat 13-Jun-26 14:26:40

Used to love my newspaper, but have'nt bought one for years.

Greciangirl Sat 13-Jun-26 14:26:48

The cost of the DM has risen substantially and we now only buy a copy occasionally.
It’s getting ridiculous.
I also subscribe to the Guardian online but do enjoy a paper version of all newspapers.

grandMattie Sat 13-Jun-26 14:32:49

I have an annual subscription to a broadsheet. I fetch it every morning. I enjoy the physical sensation of reading a paper - I also read it only, part of the sub.
Yes it is expensive but it’s my only treat. I don’t go on holiday, my diet is very modest as is my wardrobe .

Suzieque66 Sat 13-Jun-26 14:37:30

I only buy one paper which is Saturday Mail ... for the tv guide ...

Roxynounou Sat 13-Jun-26 14:44:38

I subscribe to INews online. But I like the weekend so I have a hard copy delivered by a reliable paper girl.

MT62 Sat 13-Jun-26 14:47:20

No have bought haven’t bought a paper in a long time.
Friend gives me her Guardian papers for the cat litter tray. Just the perfect size.