This week in The United States, from October 4th until October 10th 2009, is a time to honor National Newspaper Week.
But why for just a week? And why just in The US? For in reality, everywhere around the world, when printing presses are fired-up-ready and produce pieces of paper inked with printed words, symbols and images, everyday is truly a cause for celebration.
Back up for a minute, though. Just imagine for a moment having been alive many centuries ago. It would not be a question if transcribed literature, printed newspapers, magazines and books would survive The Digital Age. It would not be a question of whether or not a Pen or a Typewriter would ultimately be replaced by a Computer Keyboard with a Printer, and then, those advancements to be superseded next by Touch Screens and Voice Command systems.
Nope, none of that would have ever mattered, had the old typeset Printing Press not been invented. That’s right, you would have never had the opportunity to hold in your hands and smell a newspaper that is “Hot Off The Press”. And there wouldn’t have been any banter of “EXTRA, EXTRA, Read All About It!!” on street corners. Let alone miles of shelves covered with your favorite magazines, vast library systems, and amazing prints and artwork to adorn private and public space.
Come to think of it, we wouldn’t know anything about our governments, communities, people, places or our favorite things. On that note, let these words be a sense of urgency, for you to get out there, use the new technologies, pick up your phone, Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, you name it. It’s time for a true call to promote, subscribe, and ultimately support our newspapers and print publications, all around the world.
To become better informed, at the same time, showing love for printed material and the people and innovation that make it a reality. Because no matter what the future holds, an old friend, named Gutenberg, will forever look upon us, from wherever he is, and continue to smile at the progress in, and of, The Flow of Information.
Thanks to print, and all to do with its cause. Here’s to the ever-persistent dedication to inform and be well informed Citizens of Our World.
rankinimages
The headline of a piece printed in our local newspaper honoring National Newspaper Week read: “The First American Newspaper was published on September 25, 1690.” Following was a list of some of the current events covered in newspapers ranging from The Boston Tea Party and The Gettysburg Address to the Internet and computers.
Do we take for granted the role of newspapers, the free press upon which our nation was founded?
Looking back on the history of communication, it all started with word-of-mouth. Anyone who has played the childhood game of Gossip knows how reliable that method can be.
Over time, words were put in written form, but for centuries were often cloistered in hands of the privileged few. S. references the printing press and its role in revolutionizing communication.
Newspapers have a long track record as an efficient, cost effective method for disseminating information to the large numbers of people. Now, the power of words is at our fingertips and can be transported in the blink of an eye.
Hopefully, all forms of communication will continue to be inspired by high standards based upon well-researched information which offers multiple points of view.
After the impressive list of topics covered by newspapers since September 25, 1690, the following question was asked:
“Imagine what you’ll learn tomorrow.”
Among the many sources from which you may learn tomorrow and the next day, it is my hope that newspapers will continue to be an option in “The Flow of Information.”
By: Sara on October 13, 2009
at 9:29 pm
Loving the Columns magazine!
By: Dominic Leong on October 13, 2009
at 11:13 pm