Honoring Newspaper Carriers

“Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half have never voted for President. One hopes it’s the same half.” That’s a Gore Vidal quote from the 1992 publication of three of his Harvard University lectures titled “Screening History.”

I searched for guesstimates on the number of daily newspapers in the US. One consistent statistic was the decline of that number from 1,772 in 1950 to 1,279 in 2018. The hunt for 2023/24 stats scrambled the numbers into groups of companies that own multiple newspapers then jumped to copies in circulation. That figure is well into the millions even with decline in both weekly and daily publications nationwide due to the availability of “news” online.

That’s a whole different topic with AI at work and fake news escalating during this election year. It’s also the reason I’m focusing here on newspapers rather than politics. One would have to gather data on the number of readers relying on online news as well as info on the sources of that news to get into the political aspects. That’s mind boggling and worrisome.

Instead, let’s glance back through the looking glass to remember kids who delivered newspapers from their bicycles or from bags slung over their shoulders as they trekked door to door seeking sales. Don't forget the adults who drove to pick up those issues and helped with rolling them up and wrapping them with rubber bands and/or plastic for pickup or delivery to the young carriers. Others drove the circuitous routes to stock machines and store racks. Do you know anyone involved then or now in the physical delivery of local news?

We still have carriers, even if those afoot and on bikes have vanished. Words and images can be transferred digitally for compilation, but printed copies have to be physically handled and transported by non-AI means, at least at this moment in 2024.

On October 6, 1982, President Ronald Reagan noted on International Newspaper Carrier Day: “I welcome the observance of International Newspaper Carrier Day as an opportunity to commend those individuals throughout the country who deliver our newspapers. As newspaper carriers you are an important link in the chain between publisher and reader. Your job helps millions of Americans to enjoy the convenience of home and office delivery every day. Through your efficient and timely efforts, you help keep America informed and provide a vital service to our citizens.”

The same sentiment applies today - Newspaper Carrier Day - observed annually on September 4 as commemoration of our nation’s first carrier. He was ten-year-old Barney Flaherty, hired 9/10/1833 by the publisher of The New York Sun, Benjamin Day. Job qualification? To be able to throw a newspaper into the bushes.

Thank you to all who contribute in any way to the delivery of The Prospect-News to my mailbox, to local businesses and machines scattered throughout town. Yes, I do have an online subscription and refer to it after the fact, mostly, after my paper copy has been read, cut up and recycled/repurposed. I prefer to read my news in print