Same Difference

For this assignment, I opted to read the Saturday issue of the San Jose Mercury News. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer to read the newspaper in print. Yes, it leaves annoying black smudges on the fingers, but trust me, the newspapers here are better than the ones abroad--at least ink-wise. In other countries, some of the newspapers in print are like squids, just squirting away black ink.

In spite of this, print is better because one can find all the articles regardless of member registration/subcription. Additionally, since people can share print newspapers, they carry bonding value--bonding with friends, family members, and even one's spouse. I address all this and more in the list below.

THE DIFFERENCES
1. The ABCs of completing a story:
a. Online, the story can be read on a single page after clicking on one or more links.
b. In print, one has to turn pages in order to finish reading the story.

2. There are more options online.
a. People can listen to audioplay.
b. They can watch an audioshow versus looking at still pictures.
c. Readers can search the archives for more information on stories they find interesting.
d. People can post their comments regarding the articles.

3. In Living Color
a. All the ads online are in color as opposed to those in print.
b. The pictures online are colored as well, unlike some of those in print.

4. Online, a number of stories are restricted to subscribers/members only (i.e. "The Kindness of Strangers Exemplified" by L.A. Chung). Print newspapers, on the other hand, aren't limited to the direct subscribers alone. For example, SJSU housing subscribes to the San Jose Mercury News, but students like me can get a copy of it.

5. Readers of the print editions end up with dirty fingers whereas four eyes await online readers.
6. People at say, a breakfast table, can share the newspaper if it's in print, but not if it's online.

7. Online, they read articles in one direction only. With print newspapers, some sections such as the Real Estate or Entertainment, have to be turned up from its side before anyone can read it upright. Also, the latter can be folded up.

THE SIMILARITIES
1. Stories are the same--word for word.

2. Both versions have the weather forecast on the very first page.

3. They both have listings on the left side, which serve as previews of other articles.

4. Ads are everywhere.