How can the Washington Post keep readers and attract new ones? These questions have been confounding the Post for decades. Why, in a growing Washington region that’s both wealthy and well-educated, does the Post lose some 5 percent of its readers every year?
In the June “Post Watch” column in The Washingtonian, I put the question to readers. Dozens replied. Michael from Baltimore, who owns Washington Post Company stock, offered a novel idea:
“My suggestions as a 25 share investor are of course biased, but the entire community needs the Washington Post to continue to grow and serve.
“1. Given that many families never have a newspaper around the house, and students can finish school without ever having a daily paper, I would ask that one day of every school year, or semester, be NEWSPAPER DAY, and that the Post donate a copy for every high school student to take home and discuss with family (if there is any family), and write a brief report on what sections family members find most interesting, and how many times a week or month do they read a newspaper (if at all), and offer a trial subscription for something like $5 for a month to a) increase circulation and b) introduce the concept of a daily paper into homes that heretofore considered only radio and TV as sources of information.”
My take: Mike’s idea has merit. Rather than spend time and money on gimmicks like Post Points, the newspaper could offer partnerships with high schools. The end result would benefit students and help create the community of readers the Post seems to be losing. Maybe Mike should suggest this at the Post Company’s next annual meeting.
Saving the Washington Post—More From Washingtonian Readers
In the June “Post Watch” column in The Washingtonian, I put the question to readers. Dozens replied. Michael from Baltimore, who owns Washington Post Company stock, offered a novel idea:
“My suggestions as a 25 share investor are of course biased, but the entire community needs the Washington Post to continue to grow and serve.
“1. Given that many families never have a newspaper around the house, and students can finish school without ever having a daily paper, I would ask that one day of every school year, or semester, be NEWSPAPER DAY, and that the Post donate a copy for every high school student to take home and discuss with family (if there is any family), and write a brief report on what sections family members find most interesting, and how many times a week or month do they read a newspaper (if at all), and offer a trial subscription for something like $5 for a month to a) increase circulation and b) introduce the concept of a daily paper into homes that heretofore considered only radio and TV as sources of information.”
My take: Mike’s idea has merit. Rather than spend time and money on gimmicks like Post Points, the newspaper could offer partnerships with high schools. The end result would benefit students and help create the community of readers the Post seems to be losing. Maybe Mike should suggest this at the Post Company’s next annual meeting.
Most Popular in News & Politics
The Missing Men of Mount Pleasant
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
Muriel Bowser Defends Her BLM Plaza Decision and Looks Back on a Decade as Mayor
Yet Another Anti-Trump Statue Has Shown Up on the National Mall
8 Takeaways From Usha Vance’s Interview With Meghan McCain
Washingtonian Magazine
July Issue: The "Best Of" Issue
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
The Culture of Lacrosse Is More Complex Than People Think
Did Television Begin in Dupont Circle?
Kings Dominion’s Wild New Coaster Takes Flight in Virginia
More from News & Politics
Guest List: 5 People We’d Love to Hang Out With This July
The Washington Nationals Just Fired the Manager and GM Who Led Them to a Championship. Why Has the Team Been so Bad Since?
FBI Building Now on Track to Leave DC After All, Whistleblower Leaks Texts Suggesting Justice Department Planned to Blow Off Federal Court Orders, and NPS Cuts Leave Assateague Island Without Lifeguards
Families of DC Air Disaster Victims Criticize Army’s Response, Trump Settles His Scores Via Tariff, and Police Dog Kicked at Dulles Returns to Work
This DC-Area Lawyer Wants More Americans Betting on Elections
Trump Threatens DC Takeover, Says He’d Run the City “So Good”; Supreme Court OKs Mass Federal Worker Layoffs; and You Should Go Pick Some Sunflowers
Trump Pledges Support for RFK Stadium Plan, Ben’s Chili Bowl Will Strand Us Half-Smokeless for Months, and Pediatricians Are Suing RFK Jr.
Muriel Bowser Defends Her BLM Plaza Decision and Looks Back on a Decade as Mayor