Discussion

By Patrick Whelan on Mar 10, 2023

What an awesome, information filled video. Once again, Frank nails it!

By Jim Niemiec on Mar 10, 2023

Great points Frank. I feel your pain regarding diminishing point size and pesky pop ups. The Wall Street Journal just cancelled my print subscription and continued the digital portion because they can't maintain reliable private delivery out here in central Wisconsin. Delivery by USPS would cost more and is not timely. All hard copy is a refreshing treat now since I spend too much time looking at screens as a lifestyle.

By Henry Hunt on Mar 11, 2023

Thank you Frank. I mention this often to myself or anyone within earshot. Most people, including our son, still dismiss comments as old people jibber-jabber. Many people don't get it when I say I primarily use my smartphone as a phone or BPD (bill-paying device). Good luck to all of the folks who think this is okay as they age and their eyesight.

By Howard Owen on Mar 13, 2023

This digital sound bite brought back a lot of memories for someone who started his career in the newspaper newsroom in 1978. Hanging out in the composing room, full of characters no sitcom today could match, and watching the paper come together every night was a joy. BUT, Frank, if you can make it to the bottom of the electronic story, the addition of comments usually makes the read worth it. That's where the entertainment resides!

By Diane Dragoff on Mar 16, 2023

Frank,
I read multiple newspapers, articles such as yours, study languages and use social media through my phone. Since I took "voluntary retirement," I have been reading my way through the Boston Public Library's millions of ebooks. Through BPL I've gained access to other library networks of even more books and magazines. At some point, I'm sure I'll have to listen to matetials being read to me because the type and ads are awful.

What I really object to is the poor quality of the writing. Cost cutting has eliminated a lot of the editorial staff at the newspapers and magazines, proofreading at the book publishers, and the useful T of C and index/reference at the back of books. The articles do not make sense at times, "who what where when" are not included, the headlines are there to gain clicks not to guide the reader to news or features of interest. The end of an item simply cannot be found because taboola has inserted even more sensationalized clickbait and doctored photos.

Maybe comments like this mean we're old-school trained and the errors are simply too stunning to be ignored. Or, as one of my cranky friends does, maybe we send letters to authors telling them we've found errors in their new novels when they appear on the best seller list.

There are so many losses to the craft of writing including spelling, grammar, and tightly crafted sentence structure that reading is tough even if the typeface is legible.

Thanks for reading my complaint about writing. I appreciated your comments. Stay well, keep telling it like it is!

Diane