I was at dinner with my wife and my mom last night. My wife reminded me that we needed to pick up stamps, and my mom asked whether we had seen that stamps were set to rise in price again.
“They’re going to put themselves out of business.”
Well, possibly, but a two-cent increase in the price of stamps isn’t going to be what does it. I still believe $0.46 is an incredible bargain to send a letter anywhere in these United States, and some things still call for more formality than email. Also, there are still plenty of entities who use direct mail advertising via the USPS.
Ironically, the slow fade of the USPS will benefit from the rapid decline of the newspaper.
Retailers are now pulling their weekly circulars from the daily newspaper, opting instead for direct mail.
When I stopped at Hyvee over lunch, the sign on their door said something like, “For your convenience, our weekly ad will be mailed directly to you beginning July 7.”
Walgreens is about to start doing the same, and I’ve noticed several other retailers no longer appear in the Sunday paper.
The downward spiral for newspapers began some time ago, but that vortex has accelerated dramatically.
It’s a familiar pattern: starting in the 1960s, the KCK population base began to erode. This was followed by an increase in tax rates. More people left, creating a smaller (and less wealthy tax base); therefore, taxes rose again. Repeat this for about 40 years and you’ll see why they’re in the bind they’re in.
Same thing with the newspaper: the circulation dipped, and manpower (and therefore content) was reduced in response. This resulted in even fewer subscribers, and therefore fewer advertisers, which resulted in further staff layoffs until you’re left with…well, the paper we have today.
I love the Star. There has been a newspaper in my house since I was born.
I just don’t know how much longer they can hold on.
Showing posts with label newspaper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label newspaper. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The Kansas City Kansan Has a New Owner
Growing up, my parents always got two newspapers: the Kansas City Star and the Kansas City Kansan. The Kansan was the "local" local paper, covering all things KCK: business, sports, government; you name it.
When I made the honor roll, the Kansan printed it.
When our legion baseball team won a doubleheader, the Kansan printed it.
It was a daily newspaper for almost 87 years. Think about that.
In 2008, the Kansan was cut to a twice-weekly circulation.
By January 2009, its only presence was online.
Now, a KCK native is going to try to inject new life into the publication all by himself.
Twenty-four-year-old Nick Sloan is a one-man publisher, handling copy AND sales. He just purchased the rights to the Kansan's website, which I have added to the blogroll.
I wish him the best of luck in his attempts to report on his hometown, and I encourage you to support him as well.
For more, here is a link courtesy of Plog.
Interview with Nick Sloan
When I made the honor roll, the Kansan printed it.
When our legion baseball team won a doubleheader, the Kansan printed it.
It was a daily newspaper for almost 87 years. Think about that.
In 2008, the Kansan was cut to a twice-weekly circulation.
By January 2009, its only presence was online.
Now, a KCK native is going to try to inject new life into the publication all by himself.
Twenty-four-year-old Nick Sloan is a one-man publisher, handling copy AND sales. He just purchased the rights to the Kansan's website, which I have added to the blogroll.
I wish him the best of luck in his attempts to report on his hometown, and I encourage you to support him as well.
For more, here is a link courtesy of Plog.
Interview with Nick Sloan
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Incredible Shrinking Star
(First things first--I'm back from Ireland, and...wow. What an amazing trip. I would highly encourage everyone to find the time to make a visit. It's surprisingly affordable, and it's a vacation you'll never forget. I'll be posting pictures and stories here when I have a little more time. Onto the post...)
I have never in my life been without a newspaper subscription. When I was a kid, my parents had THREE (the Times, Star, and Kansan).
Yesterday morning, it seemed like the Sunday paper was a little light. No biggie; I know ad revenue has been dwindling and I figured there were fewer inserts or something.
When I got on the bike at the gym to read the paper today, there was no disputing it--the Star was comin' up mighty thin.
Breakdown:
Main/Local section (they are now combined): 12 pages minus ~ 4 pages of ads = 8 pages.
FYI: 6 pages (2 of which are comics and puzzles, which I'll be diplomatic and count).
Sports: 10 pages minus ~ 4 pages of ads = 6 pages.
That means there are literally only 20 pages of content.
That number includes box scores, obituaries, TV listings, and four photos at about 1/2 page each.
I know Monday is the lightest edition of the week, but please enlighten me: how am I supposed to justify a subscription renewal?
I have never in my life been without a newspaper subscription. When I was a kid, my parents had THREE (the Times, Star, and Kansan).
Yesterday morning, it seemed like the Sunday paper was a little light. No biggie; I know ad revenue has been dwindling and I figured there were fewer inserts or something.
When I got on the bike at the gym to read the paper today, there was no disputing it--the Star was comin' up mighty thin.
Breakdown:
Main/Local section (they are now combined): 12 pages minus ~ 4 pages of ads = 8 pages.
FYI: 6 pages (2 of which are comics and puzzles, which I'll be diplomatic and count).
Sports: 10 pages minus ~ 4 pages of ads = 6 pages.
That means there are literally only 20 pages of content.
That number includes box scores, obituaries, TV listings, and four photos at about 1/2 page each.
I know Monday is the lightest edition of the week, but please enlighten me: how am I supposed to justify a subscription renewal?
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