Newspapers seem to clock in anywhere between a 7th grade to 11th grade reading level. That’s just too much to ask of people these days.

Social media, short form video, podcasts, etc are consumed far more broadly today and effectively have taken reading off the table entirely.

I’m a parent and I think one of the most valuable skills I can impart is the love of reading and the attention span to make it through a novel. That basic skill is going to put them above the bar compared to their peers.