All types of stories are most welcome

Embrace freedom of choice, and enjoy what you read. PHOTO/FILE

I AM pleasantly spared any insights -- or criticisms, more precisely -- from readers who make comparisons on how the paper used to be back in their day.

Oh, I do get the odd person who has yet to forgive us for going from broadsheet to compact.

And no paper is immune to criticism.

But I am generally free from gripes about whether or not the paper was wonderful in the '70s or '80s because readers evolve as well.

Interestingly, it is often former journalists who find the evolution difficult, and their frequent lament, on journalism forums online, is about the use of "entertainment" news as opposed to the stories they like, the serious and provocative read.

What they forget is that both the former and latter exist because there are readers who want it.

People who want gossip, want entertaining videos and possibly want to see Max Key with his shirt off are classified as "escapists".

My view is readers have different tastes, but no reader is "less" than another reader because of what he or she likes.

We're all human.

To disparage a person's taste in stories is more about trying to feel good about oneself. Media is practically bottomless when it comes to what a 21st century platform like nzherald.co.nz can provide.

Don't waste your time wondering why people read what they do.

Embrace freedom of choice, and enjoy what you read. There's something for everyone.