Comics and Columnists
Our beloved Daily News learned something about the newspaper business through the comic controversy. Newspapers are about more than news. They are about relationships.
Our readers participate in relationships with the characters in the comics. In the rest of the paper, the readers also relate to the writers and columnists. The comics and columnists (intentional pairing) become part of our lives and are ingrained in our rituals. When the rituals are taken away, trust is severed, and the readers may feel free to see other papers or media.
The ritual aspects of newspaper reading are important. Buying a paper is part of the daily routine of many in Europe. Reading on the train makes London commuting bearable. Starting the day by going to the driveway or foyer to get the paper and read it (or them) over that first cup of coffee is a rite to be practiced and re-enforced. Changing our routines could be fatal to our relationship with our papers. Change the Mass in the Catholic Church. Change the melody of the Shema in a Jewish service. Mess with the order of service in a Protestant church. People will be unhappy and even disaffected.
TV newscasters understand these “virtual relationships.” They often sign off with “See you tomorrow” or “We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.” Aside from the scary implications that they can see us through the same cameras with which we see them, we understand with our brains that the words are not to be taken literally. However, unconsciously the words lead us to believe we have a kind of relationship and so we make dates with our talk show hosts or newscasters.
There are people who buy the SF Chronicle, now that Herb Cain is gone, only for Jon Carrol and Scott Osler. There are people who cancelled the L.A. Times and re-subscribed just for Al Martinez.
If it takes Mallard or Mariel, Chris or Hagar, Bridget or Beetle Bailey to start the day, well I certainly understand. Readers can get news from many sources. For them to select the Daily News will be influenced by routine and relationships with comics and columnists.
Just want to thank you for the return of the comics, now if we could just get them in the same area instead of spread over pages apart. Thanks again, for a minute I thought I was the only loony one who missed the good comics,
John Buckley
Dear Editor,
Regarding the comics: What do "we" have to do to make you listen?
You received a ton of flak for messing with our comics, printed that you were going to return them, and then you only partially did so. And, the Sunday comics is still missing a page. And, where's "Slylock Fox?!? My kids are still upset that it's not there.
Please, just restore the comics section (daily and Sunday) to the way it was!