"you’ll help save the news biz "

How will reading the News for free help save the News biz? Add to your post "click on a few ads and actually buy something from online ads on newspaper websites" or "tell your local retailers you read about their business or saw an ad featured on a news website." Then you HELP the news Biz! Or suggest they charge for access to their website so you can support your local newspaper.

In fact, I suggested exactly that earlier today on Twitter. If newspapers would put the same care into their online product previously afforded to their print editions, I'd pay. Happily so.

But we'll save the news business -- not newspapers -- by being loud about moving our consumption online. And you're right, the things you suggest will help newspapers support their online efforts. Because it's time to take the plunge and shut down the presses. It's going to happen, in any case.

Get it while you can.

An aside to other readers: Tina's comments were actually made on Friendfeed. You can distinguish Friendfeed conversations by the little blue icon which accompanies them. Tina is a good green and a solid blogger. I recommend her new journal, Real Life, Virtual World. Great recipes and money saving tips.

I also use newspapers in the yard (and for other things). But this is isn't their primary use, and I rather doubt that a substantial percentage of papers are repurposed in this way. It's probably also inefficient. I bet we could buy newsprint-grade paper cheaper in bulk right now, and the decline of newspapers will almost certainly spur someone to get into the paper ground sheet business. I'm with you on avoiding plastic weed fabric.

Hi Chris! I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this post. Newspapers are still a vital part of educating our kids about the world, and helps to give readers a full perspective about news and opinions. I was fortunately introduced to newspapers at an early age, and I'm happily showing my kids how great looking through a paper can be. It's tough to watch so many newspapers struggle and turn to going only online, and while I do read news online as well, we can't let newspapers go completely. If you're very concerned about reducing your tree consumption, or know you can't read the paper thoroughly during the week, I'd like to suggest only subscribing a newspaper on weekends. You can also share a subscription with a neighbor or co-workers, so more people are getting the news through only one paper. You're still saving paper from just going to the recycling bin.

PS - Newspaper are still the ultimate art project table toppers!

and.. modern newspapers are not made from wood anymore. Stop spreading that stereothype. 99% of regular papers is made from other than wood fibers.. wood is too expensive.