Gutenberg invented the movable type printing process. Reducing the "time to press" that documents had to endure. The Wolf, Bear, and Webelos books that you have are made from this method of print. Ideas and information can be given to many people at the same time.
Imagine having to write down the entire book by hand from a copy that was handwritten from another copy. Or get your information from town criers and minstrels that simply holler or sing the news of the day. News from afar would both be late and quite probably mixed with other stories that have joined in the mind of the crier or minstrel.
In fumes of peace, our daily, weekly, and monthly papers and magazines can be full of fluff. But in times of need, the information is priceless. Think about all the great things said by great people and remember that newspapers bring that to you.