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Original poster

What do people think of the government’s message wrapping every newspaper today?

103 replies

Rollergirl11 · 17/04/2020 09:20

In all shops today

What do people think of the government’s message wrapping every newspaper today?
OP posts:
Awrite · 17/04/2020 09:22

Well, I don't go to the shop and buy a paper so I'm not the target audience.

My Dad does though. He's in his 70's.

Bagelsandbrie · 17/04/2020 09:23

I’m another one that never buys a newspaper. I don’t know anyone that does - including those a lot older than me.

OhNoNoNoNotThatOne · 17/04/2020 09:23

It stands out and maybe it'll sink in because it's pretty colours?

sluj · 17/04/2020 09:23

Most people won't see this as they are only shopping for essentials as infrequently as possible. What does it say?

Destroyer · 17/04/2020 09:25

Is it plastic wrapping?

daisypond · 17/04/2020 09:25

Lots of people will be staying at home so won’t see it. Seems pointless to me.

PurpleDaisies · 17/04/2020 09:25

You can buy a newspaper. The police guidelines say so...

What do people think of the government’s message wrapping every newspaper today?
Aposterhasnoname · 17/04/2020 09:25

Loving the irony of having to go out of your home to buy the newspaper telling you to stay at home.

MaggieFS · 17/04/2020 09:27

That this government wastes too much of out money - all the Brexit advertising, those letters from Boris and now this. FFS.

WatchingFromTheWings · 17/04/2020 09:29

I work in a food shop....it's shocking the number of people who just don't seem to be getting the message. We've had staff verbally abused and threatened as they've asked people to stick to the rules, been shouted at cause they can't bulk buy medicines and lots of attitude from people not being allowed to shop in groups. This (messages on papers) has to be worth a try.

Original poster
Rollergirl11 · 17/04/2020 09:29

It’s replicated on digital media too. Not plastic wrapping, it’s the front page.

OP posts:
YangShanPo · 17/04/2020 09:29

Ironic since making, delivering and buying newspapers all lead people to be out more than if they stayed in and read their news online.

onlyconnect · 17/04/2020 09:30

Surest the people out buying newspapers are amongst the very ones who need to be told to stay at home.

bobstersmum · 17/04/2020 09:31

Bit pointless now that they've said people can leave home to go and stay with a friend if they need to cool down following argument. This will be totally abused by most teens, and idiots that just want to go for a piss up with their pals.

SquashedFlyBiscuit · 17/04/2020 09:31

Wow.

Chanel05 · 17/04/2020 09:34

I have a 91 year old grandmother who insists on going out for her papers daily and I'm not sure that she would recognise the 'at home' symbol.

Muddlingalongalone · 17/04/2020 09:36

The cynic inside me feels like even now in crisis mode we are paying shed loads of taxpayers money to PR & design agencies and probably investing time on messaging & strategy that could be spent elsewhere (like talking to small manufacturers adapted to PPE & ventilators) and that gimmicks like this/letter from pm to every household are wasteful....
And then I think about the proportion of the population for whom news consumption isn't a given online, viasocial channels etc and think if it gives visibility then why not.

Mummyoflittledragon · 17/04/2020 09:44

The target audience for papers are the most vulnerable, I imagine. I use my iPad / phone for news. This isn’t going to stop them buying their ruddy paper every day. I’m working hard to get online slots for family still going to the corner shop for a paper, maybe not daily. Couldn’t make it up. 🤦‍♀️

Therollockingrogue · 17/04/2020 09:45

@ bobstersmum I imagine the guidance is worded in this way as many people who are experiencing domestic abuse will not recognise it as such.
Also because if they said “if you’re a victim of abuse” it would make people MORE vulnerable and would force them into reporting abuse when they aren’t ready or similar. So if a woman was at home with an abusive partner and she said “ right that’s it I’m going for a walk” to her husband when she’s exceeded the quota of daily excursions, an abuser may attempt to restrict her movements fearing he’d be found out/ reported when the woman was questioned by police. It could be a very grave situation if, on discovering that most avenues for support were overwhelmed , a woman had to return to a man who had knowledge that she was willing to tell the police she’s a victim of abuse. Same for kids/ men/ vulnerable people and so on. Think outside your own sphere of experience.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 17/04/2020 09:47

Waste of money

noblegiraffe · 17/04/2020 09:50

Now I’m tempted to go to the shops to buy a lockdown souvenir newspaper.

Therollockingrogue · 17/04/2020 09:51

😂these newspapers will be worth a fortune one day

frasersmummy · 17/04/2020 09:53

@noblegiraffe

Brilliant.. 😂😂

ineedaholidaynow · 17/04/2020 09:55

My DM gets her paper delivered every day. She doesn’t have the internet. Lives by herself. She is staying in her flat apart from a few times a week to go for a short walk. It is something for her to read and keep her occupied.

TheGreatWave · 17/04/2020 09:57

Loving the irony of having to go out of your home to buy the newspaper telling you to stay at home.

I have just been for a hospital appointment with DS, so we popped into WHSmith. He too pointed out that to buy the paper you would have to be out of the house.

Probably not great in a hospital shop either.