Our paper carries "Dear Abby". It's written by Abigail Van Buren (Jeanne Phillips), the daughter of the original Dear Abby, Pauline Phillips. I miss the original. The advise the current writer gives tends to be a little more on the brusque side. But still, I think my bigger complaint is that I would like the column to be longer than it is - which I think is the editorial decision of my local paper. Sometimes my paper only prints one letter. I've also picked up two different newspaper publications on the same day, and note that my local newspaper has truncated the letters and answers.

Who do you have, Sheila? I get Ask Amy. I read the letter, formulate my own answer, then see if it agrees with Amy's. Some the letters are awful. "My boyfriend is wonderful but....."

I'm part of the younger generation, I'm not a cord cutter, I've never had a cord! So I've never had a cable subscription, a land line or a newspaper subscription.

My local newspaper tries to charge people for reading articles, even AP or syndicate articles such as Dear Abby, I will have none of that.

I love Dear Abby but I've always read it online, I won't waste my money to buy a physical paper.

If you miss Dear Abby, I suggest going directly to their site and reading it like I do. You don't need a subscription for that.

Yes, I get Ask Amy, and it's just ok. Texas_Gem, Abby and Ann passed away some time ago. I have never read the daughter's column, but I would be surprised if she is as good as her mother or aunt.

sheila- I know she (Abby) passed and her daughter took over years before that. I don't think I have ever read any original Abby articles, by the time I started reading Dear Abby it was already being penned by her daughter. Regardless, if you enjoy the column, you can find it online for free.

With all due respect Snidely, everything printed in our local (pay to read) newspaper is available for free from our local news stations on their websites.

The old mode is outdated and on its last leg.

IMO, people are tired of paying for readily accessible information.

Word has spread by mouth for thousands of years. Print media came around and charged people for quicker access to said information and it thrived for a few decades, then...the proverbial word of mouth found a new voice in the digital age.

IF my local paper actually provided something I couldn't find elsewhere I might be inclined to subscribe to it; but they don't, so I won't.

I can't speak to local papers in other areas but ours has been a thinly veiled shill for the current local government for a LONG time.

It serves no purpose but to be a sounding board for the current people in power and I frankly could not possibly care less for their biased opinions on what's happening in our city.

If it dies, so be it. It has served no useful purpose in my community for several years.

I agree with Snidely, newspapers are important.

I don't miss Abby and Ann, but I miss Emily Yoffe, who was "Dear Prudence" (on Slate) for years. I used to think I could do a good advice column, but Emily's Prudence outclassed me--and every other advice columnist I've read, including the twins. She retired last year, and the column has been taken over by a 20-something. She's smart and thoughtful, and I like her, but I still miss Emily.

Our neighbouring city recently shut down their newspaper. Everyone was saying they can get their stuff online, so why pay for it

Duh.....without journalists, there IS no reading online! No paper, no online access.

I like the daily paper, but what I really like are the flyers. They switched the flyer delivery separate from the paper, and we weren't getting the flyers. Separate contractor and delivery people.

I was so frustrated that I called and said I'd deliver the flyers myself if it meant that I'd get them, so I do. I'm not alone, a lot of people tell me how they like getting the flyers, and I get them out days earlier than before.

I agree with Texas_Gem.

Dear Abby articles pop up automatically on my Juno email front page. Grocery store flyers and other sales flyers are mailed to me.

http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby

We just finished watching "Spotlight". Sad to watch real investigative reporting like that come to an end. A 'free press' doesn't mean you'll get real journalism *free*.

"Free" relates to the potential editorial viewpoints ...

... not whether there's a cost to obtain the info.

ole joyful

If the newspapers fold, it won't be because of me. I get two full newspapers delivered every day. One for the local (county) info, and the other because that paper slants very much one way politically, and I like to hear both sides of issues. I really would prefer to go down to one paper, though.

Husband and I both love reading an actual newspaper. It's often too hectic during the work week, but there is nothing like sitting at the table together, drinking coffee and lingering over - and discussing - the Sunday paper. And our paper does still run dear Abby, as well as Miss Manners.

We're holdouts too. So far we still get a daily paper, skimpy thought it is, but some cities have gone to 4 days a week.

Alisande, I totally agree with you about Emily Yoffe. She was terrific as Dear Prudence. The new writer is OK but not as good as Emily.

I find their advise poor, which is why I have discontinued reading. The twins were always spot on in their advise and they didn't worry about being PC. Today they all just give permission to people who have messed up their lives. "Don't judge" Doesnt' really work when advise is truly needed.

I will chime in and agree with the idea that news papers are necessary in our society. We continue to get our local newspaper, slim to be sure but much more informing than our local TV news and inevitable commercials.(I know, they pay the bills!) Even in our small community of 160,000 (I'm guessing) and very local TV; it can only bring you a brief view of what is happening. I think, too, most folks watch local TV to hear about the weather. DH and I both read local newspapers when we travel and are most often jealous of the papers in larger areas....Sacramento, San Jose, Phoenix to name only a few. I also faithfully "read" CNN, BBC, PBS as well as some networks as I believe that "reading them" instead of watching/hearing gives me more depth....if I want to have that info. BTW, if you don't see your local paper, how do you find out how your education system is working...how the transit program, or help for Seniors or the new growing pains your community is investigating...how they are spending your tax dollars. What about your State...your Country. I don't know about "fliers"....the only ones I see are sales ads, and magazine-like print outs of coupons and information about certain places of business. An informed citizenry makes better government. Maybe some of our less than great governing bodies are what the uninformed society (we may become) deserves. I don't want to imagine a future where our news is filtered thru 'twitter" and "facebook". I do appreciate a 'heads-up" alert to 'happenings' so I can "check it out", but that is not where I get my important news. We also subscribe to the Economist and Time and I frequently research small snippets of local interesting bits of information. I DO so love what an amazing tool my computer is.

I subscribed to our morning paper, The Tulsa World, for many years but finally canceled the subscription when the pages became smaller (the actual dimensions) and the text got so tiny I had to buy new reading glasses. Even then, I sometimes had to rely on a handy magnifying glass. The paper had become about 50%-50% large and small advertising. I do subscribe to their online website although it leaves a whole lot to be desired. But, hey, I need to check the Obits daily. ☺ They apparently don't have a good web-master.

Yes, I'm older than dirt but I have always supported local businesses such as the newspaper. When it becomes a chore to give a company my business, it just isn't worth it. Aging sucks but it beats the alternative.