-Hello! May I have the New York Times please. Ah, just the one copy please.
-This is just one, the Sunday’s edition for $6, answered the salesman.
Surprised about the newspaper’s large size, around 100 pages(!), feeling incredibly sorry for the environment (wondering how many trees were cut down for one copy) and being concerned about the time that it would take to go through it all (pls see a picture below), I scurried home from the nearest store early this morning.
Looking back then I didn’t imagine that I would spend the WHOLE day reading the Times. Its preoccupying and understandable way of reporting complex issues totally captured me. Was it the writing style? Well-researched materials? Unbiased coverage? The openness and the way journalists bring, for me, an unexpected personal link with their stories? Probably, all of these – and more!
A picture of a women holding her baby-daughter standing in front of some hastily erected tents immediately caught my eye. Today the front page is devoted to the growing refugee crisis in Jordan. According to UNHCR up to 2,000 Syrians are now fleeing across the border every night. They are desparate to escape the fear of bombings in their home villages. As the crisis deepens, UNHCR, have to deploy the necessary resources to run a refugee camp which is already struggling to cope with 180,000 people. And the number is growing daily.
I have huge respect for the author, writing from the ground about the terrifying conditions of the refugee camps dwellers from the ground. I hope his article will help raise awareness of this issue, and enable UNHCR to raise the additional funds required.
Not to overwhelm you with all the information in the newspaper (my roomies heard it all))) let me just share with you a few thoughts about what impressed me the most:
– Witty and humorous style of writing about handling of life-threatening diseases. In particular, an article entitled ‘Terribly funny’, tells us about a comedian who has recently been diagnosed with a cancer. Instead of locking herself at home or in the hospital, she goes on stage and jokes ‘Wow, not only am I single, but I am about to be four pounds and bald.’
– New York’s Weddings/Celebrations page. Coming from a part of the world where LGBT rights are highly contested in society, it’s quite unusual to see pictures of the recently married same-sex couples in a newspaper. They look just as happy as traditional bride and groom. I was wondering how many years it will take for such photos to appear in Ukrainian outlets.
After devouring all the sections, apart from the Business, I google the Times to find out its secret of being so popular over the century. I believe the answer lies in it’s motto: ‘All the News That’s Fit to Print’, so that even the pickiest reader can find something for him/herself.
PS Don’t be terrified of newspapers as I am, it’s fun:)
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- The New York Times
sadovniko 