Readers want more coverage of the things they’re passionate about, but our passions vary. In response, newspapers depend on mass appeal. Topics that interest the majority get covered more than those that interest a few fanatics. The result is a newspaper that lots of people read, but few people love to read.

Some of us believe newspapers should take the opposite track, covering beats in the detail that satisfies even the most passionate reader.

Problem is a newspaper that appeals to everyone’s passions would be massive. And that means it’s expensive to print, to deliver and to buy. If newspapers could figure out how to efficiently zone by interest and increase coverage, circulation would increase.

Newspapers have zoned by county, by town, by neighborhood. Editors and business people agree that folks who live in different areas want different news. Zoning increases circulation and sales. So why not zone more?

To try and address readers’ increasing demand for news, the Sunday paper has grown into a monster. Readership studies show that giant newspapers turn off young people. But it isn’t just the size.

The paper is hard to use not only because it’s so large, but also because finding something interesting requires sifting through even more that isn’t.

Shrinking the paper would make it more attractive to a young demographic. And, let’s remember, there’s no research that says older people actually want a giant newspaper.

Tomorrow's entry: Stop wasting paper