When a character is shown reading a print newspaper in a current movie
What point is the screenwriter or director trying to make?
As we are not mindreaders, all we can do is guess. So let's do.
A) The film is presenting the character as erudite and well-informed. B) The filmmakers are using the newspaper as a sign that says "old fashioned." (That can mean either "hopelessly behind the times" or "old school/respectful of tradition.") C) It depends on the specific newspaper. D) It depends on the age of the character. A youngish person reading a newspaper is probably being presented as someone who doesn't follow the herd. An older character reading a newspaper is probably supposed to be seen as a dinosaur of one kind or another. E) Is it the front page, sports section or features section? F) It suggests the character reading the paper values vintage aspects of our culture. G) The scene is just trying to establish that the character is aware of a certain news story. H) Other.
