A study examined the readership habits and gratifications of southern Illinois student and non-student newspaper readers. The study involved the "Southern Illinoisan," a privately owned regional newspaper, and the "Daily Egyptian," a student-operated newspaper. Other papers included the "Chicago Tribune," the "St. Louis Post-Dispatch," and the "St. Louis Globe-Democrat." Data were collected in a telephone questionnaire of 408 residents of the Carbondale, Murphysboro, and DeSoto areas. Included in the questionnaire for the study were sections on parts of the paper used by readers and a section on why people read the newspaper. Other sections of the questionnaire included readership contrast questions on 16 content items involving news, advertising, and quality of the papers. Demographic data were also collected. The results indicated that student and non-student readers differ greatly in the parts of the newspaper they use, the gratifications they seek, and the way they perceive the newspaper. Students were more interested in world events, while non-students were more interested in local government plans and statistics. Student readers of all papers rated entertainment news, news of the Southern Illinois University (Carbondale campus), and movie reviews higher than did non-student readers, while student readers of the "Southern Illinoisan" rated discount coupons and classified advertising higher than did non-student readers. The single most important perception difference between student and non-student readers involved reading for more details: students felt reading for more details was part of a surveillance dimension, while non-students felt it was part of the personal enjoyment dimension. (Tables of data are included.) (HTH)