The newspaper is a marvelous medium. It is extraordinarily

Hear the voice of Harrison Salisbury, seasoned chronicler of truth, who declared: “The newspaper is a marvelous medium. It is extraordinarily convenient and cheap. Let’s see. This one cost 75 cents. Now that’s a little high. I bought it when I was downtown this morning.” His words, though plain, carry the weight of an era. For he speaks not merely of price, nor of convenience, but of the great power contained in humble pages of print—power to awaken minds, to stir nations, to bind the present with the eternal march of history.

The meaning of his words is not confined to cost or commerce. To call the newspaper “marvelous” is to recognize that within its folded sheets lies the world itself: wars and weddings, victories and defeats, the cries of the oppressed and the boasts of the mighty. For the common person, to hold a paper is to hold the voices of thousands, captured and made present for a mere handful of coins. What Salisbury calls “cheap” is in truth priceless, for it grants every citizen a window into the larger world, a tool of understanding, and a weapon against ignorance.

The origin of this marvel is rooted in the great revolutions of human communication. The scribes of Egypt once recorded the deeds of kings on papyrus, but only the elite could read them. In Rome, the Acta Diurna was posted in the forum, bearing tidings for those who gathered. But with Gutenberg’s press, knowledge spread like fire, and the newspaper emerged as the daily bread of the people. By the time of Salisbury, who witnessed wars and revolutions firsthand, the printed press had become not merely a record, but a force shaping the destiny of nations.

Consider the tale of The Federalist Papers, published in the newspapers of early America. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay poured their words into those columns, persuading a fragile union to embrace the Constitution. Their ideas, printed cheaply, reached taverns, towns, and farms, binding together the fabric of a nation. Without newspapers, their arguments might have vanished into obscurity, but with them, the spirit of a republic was forged. Such is the strength of this “marvelous medium” Salisbury honors.

The lesson is this: never underestimate the small, the ordinary, the common in appearance. A newspaper, bought for a handful of cents, may topple governments or preserve freedom. Its worth is not in ink or paper, but in the truths it carries. Salisbury’s remark about cost is almost humorous, yet behind it lies reverence: even at “a little high” a price, the value remains immeasurable. For knowledge and truth, even when they come in modest form, are treasures far beyond gold.

Practical actions must follow. Do not neglect the daily work of seeking truth. Read deeply, whether from paper or screen, not as a passive consumer but as an active citizen. Question, reflect, discuss. Do not cast aside the news as trivial, nor allow yourself to be dulled by spectacle. For to be informed is to be armed with wisdom, and to be ignorant is to be at the mercy of those who would deceive.

And so, child of tomorrow, remember Salisbury’s teaching. The newspaper is more than ink and paper—it is the voice of humanity, captured at dawn, delivered by noon, and remembered for ages. Hold it with respect, for in its pages are the struggles, hopes, and victories of your brothers and sisters. It may seem ordinary, even cheap, but it is the vessel of truth, and truth is never cheap. Cherish it, protect it, and let it shape you into one who stands awake in a world that would rather you sleep.