What are the chances that you'll read more than the first sentence of this article? Between the classes, sports, and other activities that pack their schedules, many students feel "too busy" to sit down and read entire newspaper articles.
One sophomore, who wished to remain anonymous, admits that she generally "reads only the comics and the horoscopes" in the Daily. Even so, The Observer's new bimonthly magazine format has attracted new readers who say its in-depth articles are more appealing.
"I didn't read [the Observer] often because I figured that the news had already been reported by the Daily," sophomore Debbie Anilionis said. "I'm more likely to read the Observer in the magazine format because [now] I think of it more as in-depth opinions than news."
Editors of the Observer hope their new format will offer a much more in-depth look into life at Tufts. Editor-in-chief Mara Vatz said the format will attract more readers. "The Observer will draw a different kind of reader," she said. "One who is interested in the articles rather than the headlines."
Provost Sol Gittleman, a longtime fan who has interacted with Observer editors for 40 years, said the first magazine-style issue on Nov. 9 "showed real effort and promise."
"The Daily took on a larger role, which left a niche for the Observer. I got in touch with [the editors of the Observer]... and told them to do something in-depth, something more detached and historical," Gittleman said.
He described the concept as "a little 'New Yorker' - good writing on good topics. It should educate. [Its stories] can be more complex than the Daily's, which must inevitably, and unfortunately, be superficial because it is a daily paper. [The Observer can cover] stories like the custodian issues... it can give writers a few weeks to write a story and provide more depth."
Many students agree with Gittelman, and the Observer's new "niche" in campus media may attract more readers.
Junior Abi Mancell, who didn't read the Observer before, said she plans to read it more often because the biweekly format "will be more interesting."
But Meredith Gilbert, a junior who lives in a house near campus, is more concerned with keeping up with day-to-day issues than with reading in-depth articles. She says that she reads the Daily to keep herself informed.
"[The Daily] is helpful since I live off-campus. I don't see posters on my walks [back and forth to classes] so it helps me to know what's going on," Gilbert said.
Some casual Observer readers weren't highly impressed with the new style. Sophomore Naeem Webster used to read the arts and entertainment section of the Observer. While noting that the color cover was "eye-catching," he didn't think the new format was "anything special." "Now that it [only] comes out every two weeks, I probably won't read it as much," he said.
Sophomore Matthew Dysart read the Observer occasionally, but said he "never found any [articles] especially interesting," and added that he was unimpressed with the new format.
"I had hoped that [with the] new format, [there would be] relevant topics... [it would be] different and interesting," he said.
The Observer's new format has received a wide range of responses. But as it has only published one news magazine-style issue thus far, it may take a few months to truly evaluate any changes in readership.
