re: #73 sagehen

no, not “always was”.

In the days before radio, the function of newspapers was to sell newspapers. And in cities with multiple newspapers, to sway an audience to a particular political view. Advertising was a minor extra.

As a former newspaper worker, I can say with absolute certainty the purpose of a newspaper is to sell advertising space, which it does by creating readers. But the price you pay to buy a newspaper basically covers the cost of paying people to drive or bike around distributing it. It doesn’t even cover the cost of the paper or ink.