Newspaper sales surge after Palin admits “I read all of them”
Media outlets have announced massive growth in newspaper sales, after Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin declared she reads “all of them” in an interview with CBS’ Katie Couric four weeks ago.
Bucking a years-long decline that began with the explosion of online news sources, traditional print media is enjoying unparalleled success, and it’s not just the New York Times or the Washington Post in the limelight. Scores of locally produced content is selling in numbers rarely seen, from the Tampa Tribune in Florida, to the Chico Enterprise Record in California.
Jeffrey Davis, a media analyst with New York’s Greenfield Media Corp, says the new trend is hardly surprising, given Palin’s popularity. “What we’re seeing here is Americans showing genuine interest in world affairs, or at the very least, interest in what’s going on in the next suburb,” Davis says. “This is attributable to Palin, no doubt, and it’s great for our struggling media companies.”
Although Palin didn’t name any specific publication, Davis suggests this may have been to further enhance her image as a media-savvy politician and caring mother, not wanting to “show favour to any one of her newspapers.”
Newspaper reader, Jessica Twomey, of Homer, AK, says she can’t get enough of the news, and it’s all thanks to the inspirational Palin. “I can’t remember how I spent all my time before Sarah came along, but now I read newspapers. Without her, I would never have known Russia was so close to us, or that hunting, hockey, and guard dog-related injuries are 438% higher than this time last year. You learn a lot when you read as many papers as she does!”
Walt Boyd of Fayetteville, NC, also has a newfound enthusiasm for the printed word, despite admitting that he can’t actually read. “Left school at 14, so I never really got the chance to read, but I still know what’s goin’ on in the world by flippin’ through the pages,” Boyd says. “It’s like the weather – just stick your head out the window and it makes sense.”
Looking at a picture of candidate Barack Obama on front page of the Fay Observer, however, Boyd shows confusion. “This black guy is just everywhere – must be another one of them rap stars, I guess.”
Despite the burgeoning sales, Davis believes the trend is only temporary. “Unfortunately for our newspapers, Oprah has a ‘Book Club’ episode next week.”
