The strange decline of the paperboy :

People in many areas of the country struggle to get a newspaper delivered. It's the burning issue in the world of the newsagent - where did all the newspaper boys and girls go?
Becoming a paper boy or girl is a rite of passage for many children.
Perhaps more than any other part-time job, it educates the young future worker about the importance of getting up in the morning, of punctuality, of steadfastness.
POSSIBLE FACTORS IN DECLINE
Rising pocket money
Other job opportunities
Concerns over safety
Linked to tiredness in school
New regulations