42-foot snake vs Nazi Doctor

Today I picked up both the USA Today and New York Times papers on my way out of school for a late-night read after dinner. I slid on my slippers, setup my pillows and lounged on my bed with both papers in hand. I picked up the USA Today first and began to skim the front page headlines. Almost all of the articles caught my interest, particularly the tidbit located in their "Newsline" column about the 42 foot snake fossil that was found in Columbia . Can you imagine that? A 42 foot snake! This titanoboa means "titanic boa" and is the largest snake fossil found in the world. After gazing at the hypothetical illustrated picture, I immediately turned the page to read the rest of the details. After finishing the article, I decided to scan the front page of the New York Times next. Was there any hint of the 42 foot serpent? Nope. Any article even touching on an extremly interesting subject (i.e. monster-snake)? Nope. This made me wonder.

At a glance, I was more intrigued by the USA Today's choice of front page material than I was the New York Times, but isn't the New York Times more a more respectable publication? I really don't like snakes because I, well, think they're creepy. But a 42 foot one? Now that's news! As a college student, I am pulled to stories that astound me, compel me, intrigue me and wow me. On the front cover of the New York Times, the first article on the left was about a Nazi Doctor in Egypt. After reading the first couple paragraphs in the story, I caught myself drifting. As much as I wanted to read the headlining story of the New York Times, I felt more pulled to the articles in the USA Today. This difference in interest made me wonder: Are writers for the New York Times really writing to interest readers, or writing to impress them? I understand that the New York Times is a well-circulated newspaper and many readers find their articles interesting, but I can't help but not like the USA Today better. I wanted to read the New York Times because people above me read it. My dad reads the USA Today because he enjoys it. Which route do I choose? I'm at a fork in the road and want the best of both worlds. I want the knowledge of the New York Times but the self-interest of the USA Today. Will these paths ever cross?