•May 13, 2026•
Op-Ed by DM Williamee
I have written in one form or another most of my life. From poems and short stories in first grade on grocery bags, compositions in high school, keeping a journal, multiple forms of writing taught in college, legal writing, and writing for professional publications, I have always loved putting thoughts to paper. Writing for a newspaper was a pivot for me, but one I welcomed and continue to try to become more skilled at each day. I read voraciously, and while I do own a Kindle and spend a lot of time in front of screens, I, like many others, prefer having a book, magazine, or newspaper in my hand and on my shelves. Why scroll endlessly when you can turn real pages, smell the scent of paper, and pause to consider the content? In today’s busy world, any opportunity to slow down feels like a luxury.
In this digital age, many people suffer from information overload and the resultant stress. Is what is being read real news or fake news, and was it written by a human or artificial intelligence? With a newspaper, you can set these questions and stressors aside, put up one’s feet, sip one’s coffee, and experience your news more slowly and with a decided measure of confidence. Reading a newspaper is a tactile experience. The feel of the paper, the sound of turning pages, and the smell of ink on paper all create a sensory engagement that digital media can’t replace. The physical interaction can enhance comprehension and retention, and studies have shown that people can absorb more information from print than can from screens. With paper, you can get out your pen and scissors and highlight points, do puzzles, or save information in a way you can’t from a screen.
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