Maybe he secretly reads the news. OMG, how shocking that would be! Funny thing is you ask us, who don't know you nor your son, when surely the most obvious thing to do would be to ask him.
Given that he locks the door it could be that he uses the newspaper to engage in some shocking masturbation rituals & fetishes. Maybe he masturbates into it then throws it into the bin. If he does this I'd advise you suggest he masturbates into a handkerchief instead, much more practical (& comfortable too).
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.