The best of both worlds

by M. Stewart
The newspaper industry has been struggling ever since it decided to start giving away its product online. Initially, the plan seemed somewhat reasonable, given the assumption that the advertising model that supported traditional print newspapers could be transitioned to the Internet; however, that transition has not been entirely successful. Most would say it has been a disaster.

One problem is that newspapers are meant to be read, and the multimedia advertising methods associated with the online experience interfere with the reading process. Put simply, loud videos, flashing lights, pop-ups, and animations create a hostile reading environment. As such, the typical newspaper Web site does all it can to push readers away. Think of that loud, annoying Six Recycling video that greets you every time you click into The Review Web site. Need I say more?

Of course, the alternative is to subscribe to the print edition, but not everybody likes the idea of amassing bales of discarded newspapers in their home. Even though I am a committed recycler, I'd rather not deal with all that paper in the first place.

Given those two unattractive alternatives, what's a newspaper reader to do?

Some newspapers--and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is one--have come up with a solution that offers the best of both worlds. Now you can subscribe to the PG print edition without ever having to touch paper or be driven away by obnoxious online advertising. The "PGe," as it is called, is delivered every morning to your computer, tablet, or smart phone, and it looks exactly like the print edition. In fact, it is the print edition--only it's not printed on paper.

I download my PGe as a PDF document, which means that I can keep every issue in an electronic folder that takes up zero physical space and wastes no paper. I find that instead of my typical mad dash through the online edition, I spend lots of time savoring the newspaper from the first page to last. Heck, I even look at the ads! They don't dance, talk, or blink. As well, the words and pictures on every page are crystal clear, and I can zoom in and out at will.

And how much does it cost? Well, a month's trial subscription is just $1. After that, you pay 10 cents per day. If you already subscribe to the print edition, the e-version is free, although I can't imagine why anyone would want both. Check out a sample copy of the PGe.

I can foresee a time in the not-too-distant future when the paper edition of newspapers will be eliminated entirely. No more printing presses, no more physical delivery, no more bales of discarded papers in the nation's landfills. To be honest, I feel good about paying for my news again and would be willing to pay a lot more than a dime a day. I want the newspaper industry to thrive, and I want our journalists to once again be paid a living wage for their work.

I can't help but wonder how long it will take our local Ogden newspapers to get on board with a PDF edition.