Print Media

I recently got the chance to sit down with my Grandma to discuss her experiences with Print Media. Grandma came from a loving family that didn't have much access to print media. She recalls getting her town's newspaper everyday through the mail, but had to get books, magazines, and different newspapers from her school or local library.

Grandma grew up reading The Sedalia Democrat which gave her all she needed to know about local news, obituaries, births, marriages, cartoons, and select world news. Surprisingly, her favorite section as a child were the....obituaries.

│"Oh... now, don't look at me like that! They were interesting! Lexi, I said do not give me that look!"

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/72623838/

One of her favorites to read was the Ann Landers advice column. She explains that Ann Landers was a gal who would give advice to other gals about certain life situations. Grandma thought they were interesting to read, and she related to a lot of the questions Ann Landers answered. 

https://buffalonews.com/2015/06/29/june-29-1975-ann-landers-divorce-big-news/

Grandma shared that she was typically the only one to read the paper. Her mother and three younger siblings didn't seem to care. They, along with many other people in that time, would often take the newspapers and rip them up into tiny pieces for toilet paper for the outhouse. With the newspaper ink being so thick and dark, it's no wonder they got the notorious nickname "Zebra-butt".

As the conversation shifted from newspapers to magazines, she wasn't as exuberant in her explanations. Grandma doesn't recall reading too many magazines—mainly because they weren't readily available. 

She does, however, remember one particular magazine article. This article will never leave her memory, and she says it still affects her. In Life Magazine, they informed my twelve-year-old grandma about the Holocaust. They described it through visuals and graphics. Grandma recalls one particular picture with twenty to thirty naked skeletons in a hole underground. She never told anyone how she felt, what she thought it meant, or about her understanding of the Holocaust.

│"I sure don't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday...but, man, I remember those bodies laid in the ground."

Grandma mentioned that she really enjoyed reading. Often, Grandma would read auto-biographies, chapter books, and cheap gas station novels. Her favorite auto-biographies were about Catherine the Great, JFK, etc. She relied on her local library, school, and close neighbors/friends for her source of publications. Later, when Grandma had kids of her own, she encouraged them to join the school's Book Club just so Grandma could read more books. 

One of her favorite publications was the National Geographic. She would read about people and humanities in other countries, specifically Africa. She saw her first mountain in National Geographic, and still yearns for a live view. 

https://buffalonews.com/2015/06/29/june-29-1975-ann-landers-divorce-big-news/

Reflecting on her media habits then to now, Grandma shares that she really doesn't read anymore. She'll do a crossword or word puzzle every now and then, but her book, magazine, and newspaper habits have changed drastically.

│"You know, Lex. I really miss not having my daily newspaper."

I'm anxious for Grandma and I's next visit. Her experiences remind me to get more involved with Print Media, so that I have interesting stories to share when I'm older.