Free Newspaper ..... is not a good thing.

[marcwang]

There are several reasons to stop circulating Free Today Newspaper, or charge a nominal fee for it (say 30 cents). This free resource generates too much social cost.

1) It is a waste of resources. There are people who read it for 5 mins and dump it. There are people who use them for many other purpose, other than reading. I wonder how much paper, resources are wasted each day, its incredible.

2) Reading papers should be banned on MRT trains during peak hours. Inconsiderate readers take up 2 standing spaces, leaving those near the door that opens with nowhere to stand. Papers should be printed in such a way, it could be folded so it takes up less space to read. But that is not possible since this is not compatible with large ads that support the paper.

agree ?

If you are one of the above, please stop and be considerate.

Just a rant, cannot tahan looking at this every morning.

 

[brapodam]

I don't think it should stop, because companies need media to put their ads on, and newspapers are a good platform to do that. For the trains thing, it's more a problem with people than the papers...papers can be folded up, it's just whether people want to or not. Not everyone reads the ads - in fact most people just read the news and ignore the ads.

It's not a waste of resources because it helps companies (including the news company) to make money, only damage is to the environment. I see where you are coming from, but really, it's not the problem of the papers, it's the problem of the people.

 

[allenleonhart]

sell paper to garung guni...

 

[marcwang]

I don't think it should stop, because companies need media to put their ads on, and newspapers are a good platform to do that. For the trains thing, it's more a problem with people than the papers...papers can be folded up, it's just whether people want to or not. Not everyone reads the ads - in fact most people just read the news and ignore the ads.

It's not a waste of resources because it helps companies (including the news company) to make money, only damage is to the environment. I see where you are coming from, but really, it's not the problem of the papers, it's the problem of the people.

We can't change the people overnight. Singaporeans will only change when everyone around them change. A nominal fee would still make the papers affordable for all, but deter those who use it minimally. I disagree that environmental concerns are secondary. I don't see a mass dumping of straits times in the bins. More users use each copy of the ST , which is efficient. Of course viewership is reduced, so the today will continue to be free.

 

[ST1100]

Charging a nominal fee may actually cost more. The distribution drops, potentially less ads; you need logistical accounting for the paper quantities, you need distribution channels and money handling/accounting, etc.

 

[Limsgp]

I tend to agree with TS.. the Today newspaper should not be free, but maybe cost 10cts or 20cts? As long as it is not free..

And they should develop an electronic version for free distribution. That'll help to save the environment. Somehow there's an electronic version but it is not comprehensive. They should make one that provide same coverage as the printed version.

 

[kwttan]

Regardless on the train or bus, I observe some people reading newspaper and they tend to open their chicken wings so wide and quite often brush their newspaper or wing against those sitting next to them. Another irritating thing is playing games on their phone or gadget, with the volume on loud.
Reading is not wrong, however these people need to be more considerate to those next to them.

 

[Baracus]

Somehow there's an electronic version but it is not comprehensive. They should make one that provide same coverage as the printed version.

Really? Then what have I been reading all these years? It sure looks like page by page scan...:dunno:

TODAYonline Print Edition

 

[victorlee10]

There are also those uncles and aunties that rely on these free newspapers to make a living. There is an aunty that waits outside the mrt near my place for any discarded papers presumably so that she can sell to the karang guni man.

 

[Limsgp]

Really? Then what have I been reading all these years? It sure looks like page by page scan...:dunno:

TODAYonline Print Edition

oh.. I was referring to the iPhone App.. but didn't use much. Maybe my info is outdated... Oops..

 

[GDSNP]

There are several reasons to stop circulating Free Today Newspaper, or charge a nominal fee for it (say 30 cents). This free resource generates too much social cost.

1) It is a waste of resources. There are people who read it for 5 mins and dump it. There are people who use them for many other purpose, other than reading. I wonder how much paper, resources are wasted each day, its incredible.

2) Reading papers should be banned on MRT trains during peak hours. Inconsiderate readers take up 2 standing spaces, leaving those near the door that opens with nowhere to stand. Papers should be printed in such a way, it could be folded so it takes up less space to read. But that is not possible since this is not compatible with large ads that support the paper.

agree ?

If you are one of the above, please stop and be considerate.

Just a rant, cannot tahan looking at this every morning.

There's nothing wrong with the papers. What is wrong is that Singaporeans simply don't care enough about the environment to recycle the papers after reading.

Banning reading of papers on the train? We'll be the number one laughing stock if we ever do that.

 

[Muckafutha]

Well I agree with you. I see some people taking 2 copies of the paper. One for their friend who didnt come out for lunch. Why? Can't they share one copy. In Australia, when a guy finishes reading the newspapers, usually they will ask if the person beside is interested to read it, rather than throw away. Some people leave it on the seat. Of course I'm not saying that is desirable. If nobody takes it then it becomes rubbish that someone else need to clear. But at least the idea is that the newspaper need not be discarded simply after one read. And we don't need a new set of newspapers to get the news.

 

[shaoken]

There are several reasons to stop circulating Free Today Newspaper, or charge a nominal fee for it (say 30 cents). This free resource generates too much social cost.

1) It is a waste of resources. There are people who read it for 5 mins and dump it. There are people who use them for many other purpose, other than reading. I wonder how much paper, resources are wasted each day, its incredible.

2) Reading papers should be banned on MRT trains during peak hours. Inconsiderate readers take up 2 standing spaces, leaving those near the door that opens with nowhere to stand. Papers should be printed in such a way, it could be folded so it takes up less space to read. But that is not possible since this is not compatible with large ads that support the paper.

agree ?

If you are one of the above, please stop and be considerate.

Just a rant, cannot tahan looking at this every morning.

Excuse me but I'm one of those who reads newspaper on board the MRT every morning.

FREE NEWSPAPER is not a waste of money! It is a good way of circulating news, via print.
As what some said, advertisements are printed on it. It's advertisers' choice to use this as a way of publicity.

Newspapers to be folded? Er.. If you do designing, you will notice that the text are printed in columns so that people can fold and read it paragraph by paragraph. It is the reader's preference.

But come to think of why you dislike such things to much.. Hmm.. :think:
You always cannot get the newspaper every morning and need to buy newspaper? :dunno:

*no offence.* Just sharing my thoughts.

 

[Sion]

Free papers are like free condoms.

Everybody wants it but nobody keeps it. :bsmilie:

 

[kwttan]

Free papers are like free condoms.

Everybody wants it but nobody keeps it. :bsmilie:

Newspaper can be recycled, can condoms? :bsmilie:

 

[Muckafutha]

Newspaper can be recycled, can condoms? :bsmilie:

can. there were some photos circulating a while ago about condoms being recycled into the scrunchies or rubber bands that girls use to tie their hair. No prizes for guessing which country did that.

 

[kwttan]

can. there were some photos circulating a while ago about condoms being recycled into the scrunchies or rubber bands that girls use to tie their hair. No prizes for guessing which country did that.

Hmmm... I roughly think I know which country can be so innovative :sweat:
Hope they don't recycle into any form of food, e.g chewing gum

 

[9V-Orion Images]

The newsprint is already manufactured with recycled paper, how much more environmentally friendly to you need it to be?

 

[Canonised]

For earth's sake IMO all printed newspapers should be stopped!

 

[JinnyLim]

Regardless on the train or bus, I observe some people reading newspaper and they tend to open their chicken wings so wide and quite often brush their newspaper or wing against those sitting next to them. Another irritating thing is playing games on their phone or gadget, with the volume on loud.
Reading is not wrong, however these people need to be more considerate to those next to them.

Normally when I felt my space been invaded by these chicken wing people, I just tap them and tell them to watch out from coming into my space.

I seen some people before that started shouting across the crowded train to people who reading newspaper from some distance away to stop reading newspaper. :sweatsm: