The most fascinating part about this habit is that young and old Melbournians participated. To compare it to the US, newspaper readership is like a spectator sport. Some people were loyally cheering for Fairfax’s The Age and some were tipping their hats to Murdoch’s The Australian. As every good journalist is supposed to do, I tried to remain neutral. Needless to say, my neutrality didn’t last long.

As the week progressed, I found my self sitting in the main conference room of The Age. The Australians must know the key to any American college student’s heart is free food, because the staff had strategically placed tea and desserts upon arrival. While sitting in my plush executive chair, sipping my Earl Grey, I felt like I was fitting right in at The Age. The charming and handsome Fairfax communication director Nigel Henham talked to the group about the similarities, but mostly the differences in the Australian/ US newspaper process.