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.

Newspapers have always been about getting your eyeballs to ads. They were cheap before because they could run so many ads. Now, with advertisers being able to show on the internet, newspapers are relatively expensive compared to their content.