ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — I recently read the column by Russell Wangersky regarding the Government’s funding of print media.
I also read with great interest the letter by Falah Maroun.
In many respects, I would agree with the former, who writes that subsidizing newspapers and magazines is a worthy endeavour but would not really solve the more basic problems facing journalism.
Journalists face tremendous danger in many parts of the world because they seek to convey the truth to the world. Some have been murdered. In the Western world, especially in the United States, reporters have been called purveyors of "fake news.”
This despite the fact that most reporters and editors take great pains to verify facts before putting pen to paper.
The dissemination of news by print media is the most important method for telling the truth to the public.
Unfortunately, the world today, especially the Western world, relies almost entirely on getting the day’s news from the ubiquitous electronic devices available today. The arrival of television news some 50 years ago, the invention of handheld phones, have changed the way the majority of the public learns about the day’s happenings.
One cannot digest important happenings by watching short sound bites on a screen.
We can only learn the importance of the news by reading in-depth columns in newspapers and magazines.
It would be impossible to change these facts overnight, but I might suggest that we start with remodelling our educational system.
We could begin with teaching our young children the beauty of reading from a printed page. We could teach our young to write cursively. We could prevent the use of handheld devices in elementary school.
I remember, as a young child, the joy of being able to read a real book. I am certain that this joy would not be lost today. Instead of giving an iPad to someone as a gift, buy him or her a book.
We must respect and preserve the profession of journalism. Newspapers must prosper.
Avrum Richler
St. John’s
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