Free Stuff: Does It Sell Newspapers?

I’m back to reading newspapers once again. After I purchased my iPhone, I thought I abandoned print because my local newspapers back in California, the Los Angeles Times and The Orange County Register were charging too much for flimsy content. Now that I’m a Journalism student, it makes sense to buy newspapers once again because I need it for story ideas. After all, The Guardian at the uni store costs only 40p, a lot less than the LA Times did back at UCLA (and they didn’t have student prices).

I noticed that on many occasions, the national papers  give free stuff away. This week, The Times is packaging novels along with the news. I would buy The Times had they packages novels that would interest me. The Last of the Mohicans? That was so middle school. The Guardian, on the other hand, has this series called “Great fairytales.” Some of them are familiar, like “Cinderella” and “The Little Mermaid” (thanks a lot Walt Disney), and others I haven’t even heard about like “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” or “Mossycoat.” It’s not that I read any of these fairytales; perhaps the day will come when I have children (if I ever have children) and daddy needs to read a story.

Other stuff I’ve gotten for free from newspapers–and were more useful or interesting–were a First Aid guide by the British Red Cross, The History of World War, and The Observer’s Book of Scandals (a fine read indeed). I’m sure giving away stuff makes certain people want to buy newspapers, but should every day be a free giveaway?

I suppose if I was still living in Orange County, The Orange County Register could give free Rally Monkey posters or the Los Angeles Times giving away posters of Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Jordan Farmar, Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom every day for one week. Now wouldn’t that help with their flagging circulation? Do you like getting free stuff from your newspaper?