Original Research Article DOI: 10.18231/2456-9623.2018.0011 IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, January-June, 2018;3(1):49-55 49 Newspaper reading habits among the students of Farook college, Kozhikode Kadeeja Banu C V 1,* , Yaseen Aboobacker K V 2 1 Assistant Professor on contract, Farook College, Kozhikode, Kerala, 2 LIS Intern, National Library, Kolkata, India *Corresponding Author: Email: kadeejabanucv@gmail.com Abstract Newspaper is a popular reading material that gives us day-to-day information. It helps the students to get current information as well as to improve their thinking and observation skill. It also helps them to know about career opportunities, scholarships, institutions of higher learning etc. The study is aimed to understand the newspaper reading habits of the students of Farook College. Primary data were collected through administering a well structured questionnaire among undergraduate and postgraduate students. Random sampling method is used. 261 questionnaires were distributed among the students. This study revealed that college students regularly read both Malayalam and English newspapers. They prefer to read education section in the newspaper that makes positive impact in their academic performance and career building. The study also indicated that lack of time is the major negative factor preventing them from newspaper reading. Keywords: Newspaper, Reading habits, Students, Farook College. Introduction Reading is one of the most ancient means of bringing knowledge and culture within the reach of people. It helps in enriching the personality of an individual in the society as it increases intellectually motivational interactions. Newspaper is one of the most popular reading materials give us day today information and comments on current affairs. According to ALA Glossary, Newspaper is a publication issued at stated and frequent intervals, usually daily, weekly or semiweekly which reports events and discuss topics of current interest. Newspapers are considered as the mirror of the world. It’s an important source of tracking current events and their impact on national and international affairs. Newspapers are an important source of information as they contain abroad range of news on all subjects and activities. It plays an important role in the dissemination of information and encourages reading habits, underscore the responsibilities of citizenship. Newspapers also help students to improve their thinking and observation skill and promote imagination. Newspapers also have a major role in formulating and shaping public opinion. The knowledge is supplemented to these subjects by the newspapers. The student must be aware of what is happening in the world around him. Newspaper is an important service that can render to education by imparting knowledge of current to students. So it is to serve as one of the important medium of education and instruction. Farook College is one of the autonomous colleges in Kerala equipped with a good library. It has a valuable collection of books, periodicals, CDs and other audio visual aids. Among different sections or areas in the library, newspaper reading room is highly used area. The college library subscribes nine Malayalam newspapers and four English newspapers. Significance of the Study: It is necessary for students to acquire knowledge for leading the nation towards development. Newspaper is the main source to acquire knowledge about country‘s economy, social, political factors. So newspaper reading habits of the students should be analyzed. This study may encourage students to use newspaper as a useful tool in their academic activities. It will provide an opportunity for students to voice their views concerning the motives of reading newspaper what they see as essential information for their education. This study could be beneficial for newspaper publishers to fulfill readers’ needs by releasing content according to the necessities of their target readers. It helps newspapers by revealing the factors affecting the habits of reading newspaper among the students Objectives of the Study The main objectives of the study are: 1. To determine how regular respondents read newspapers 2. To know the time being devoted by respondents for reading newspapers 3. To determine the purpose of reading newspapers 4. To determine the ways through which they obtain newspaper for reading 5. To know the different areas of interest of respondents in newspaper 6. To determine the students dominant motives in reading newspapers 7. To determine the media mostly preferred by the respondents Materials and Methods Primary data were collected using a well structured questionnaire. The data were collected from both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students in Farook College, Calicut. Random sampling method is