Just be careful when dealing with thing intentionally left moist - mold/mildew can get a toehold in no time. You are using that to cover the screen lid? A lot of folks here have use saran wrap, plexiglass and transluscent ConTac paper to cover the lid with the same goal of maintaingin humidity in mind.

I know what you mean about newpaper - lucky my wife swoops on the subscription her office gets and occasionally i can get soem leftovers from the tech library here.