Encouraging a Newspaper Reading Habit in College Students: Prior Experiences with Newspapers and the Development of Civic Interest

For decades the United Statesâ¿¿ newspaper industry has been concerned with a decrease in readership of their publications among young Americans. This is an issue that not only concerns newspaper publishers because of continued declining circulation figures but also concerns society as a whole because of the impact the trend can have on the democratic process of government that depends on informed, active citizens. This work investigates prior factors in a personâ¿¿s life, such as family newspaper literacy practices in childhood, use of newspapers during primary and secondary education, and the development of civic interest, that may encourage a newspaper reading habit in young adulthood. Newspaper publishers, supporters and supervisors of Newspapers in Education programs in the United States, and educators (especially reading and civics teachers and college journalism professors), should find this study helpful in understanding the complexities of how young adults become newspaper readers and interested citizens.