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Newspapers
R Us because Humans R Us
By Melissa Martin
North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia,
Antarctica. Humans live, work, and play on the 7 continents. Humans
sail the seas. Humans fly the skies. And humans read online newspapers.
“The newspaper is a greater treasure to the people than uncounted
millions of gold,” declared Henry Ward Beecher.
All free countries on the planet with a printing press and the internet
are able to connect to share words, ideas, and daily happenings. People
read newspapers around the globe because humanity experiences tragedies
and triumphs; goodness and evil; life and death. We relate to laughter
and tears; healing and suffering; love and hate.
It’s in our nature to be curious about our fellow humans in other
geographical regions. Stories impact us. Our emotions ebb and flow when
a story touches our soul. We can relate because we all bleed red when
we are cut. Human interest stories connect us to each other. We are
human-centered. Countries and cultures are linked via newspapers.
December 10, 2018, marked the 70th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. Every human is entitled to the freedoms
listed in the Universal Declaration "without distinction of any kind
such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other
opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status."
Online newspaper stories expose and celebrate human rights around the
globe.
Prior to the World Wide Web, we watched the evening news on television
or listened to the radio for current information about citizens in
other countries. Now, we can read what journalists, reporters, and
columnists from all races, ethnicities, and cultures write. We can read
their local stories. We can read about their communities. On a local,
regional, national or global scale, humans can tune into newspapers
anytime on planet Earth.
According to a 2015 World Press Trends Survey, global newspaper
circulation revenue made history by exceeding advertising revenue for
the first time. Why? Many newspapers are diving into digital
technology.
“What are the news headlines today?” According to the World Association
of Newspapers World Press Trends report, more than half of the world’s
adult population read a newspaper each day—more than 2.5 billion in
print and more than 600 million in digital form.
The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, or WAN-IFRA,
is the global organization of the world’s press. It derives its
authority from its global network of 3,000 news publishing companies
and technology entrepreneurs, and its legitimacy from its 80 member
publisher associations representing 18,000 publications in 120
countries. www.wan-ifra.org.
From Antigua to Zimbabwe, I can peruse local online newspapers. Stories
in online newspapers around the globe connect us—because we are humans.
Long live online newspapers! Celebrate online newspapers! Humans R Us
because Newspapers R Us.
Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, educator, and
therapist. She lives in Southern Ohio.
www.melissamartinchildrensauthor.com.
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