WHEN was the last time you walked into a shop and saw a teenager buy a newspaper?
I don’t think I ever have. An obvious reason springs to mind: newspapers are expensive. It’s no secret that most teenagers do not have a lot of spending money lying around and cannot afford to buy newspapers daily, especially when they can receive the same information by other means for a much lower price.
Of course, if cost were the only issue, surely you would see many teenagers picking up free newspapers like this one (Northside People) but even that does not happen often.
The reason why teenagers do not buy newspapers must lie elsewhere.
I believe newspaper firms do not see teenagers as their target market. Their aim is primarily to provide information about current affairs to those who want to stay informed.
However, the language used is very formal, the style of writing can be difficult for a teenager to read as it is written and edited by adults. The small black print is not as eye-catching as the colourful, larger print that is found in a magazine written with teenagers in mind.
In this writer’s opinion, the topics discussed in a newspaper are rarely teenager friendly and do not appear to be relevant to a teenager’s life. Teenagers cannot yet vote, do not buy shares on the stock market and most do not pay income tax, as they are not employed.
Any articles related to these topics seem inconsequential to the life of a teen. This is information that can be learned in the future. There is no need to read it now. This is one of the main reasons why teenagers do not buy newspapers.
Aoife Kettle (16), from Balbriggan, says she doesn’t buy newspapers because of the internet.
“It is unnecessary to buy newspapers when it is cheaper and more convenient to use the internet to find the most current information,
? she states.
“Newspapers hold yesterday’s news whereas online news sites are constantly being updated.
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Katelyn Conway McLaughlin (16), from the Naul, says:
“Instant gratification is what teenagers are used to, and it’s what newspapers can’t do.
“Many cafés and libraries now stock newspapers so that you can read the news without incurring the cost of purchasing one.
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There are many factors affecting teenagers’ lack of interest in newspapers. Unless newspapers move to stay with modern trends by making their news available online and providing articles that are relevant to people of all ages, it is likely that even adults will begin to go elsewhere for information.
Newspapers as we know them now will have to fight to survive in this ever-changing world.
?¢ Lisa Flynn is a Transition Year Student at Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan.