Publisher's Point

Does it concern me?

“ The Cincinnati Enquirer will cut the number of days it runs classified ads, switch to a narrower page-format and condense some of its sections in an effort to reduce costs as advertisers spend less.” In a Sunday front-page letter to readers, Cincinnati Enquirer Publisher Margaret Buchanan detailed the steps the daily paper plans to make in order to use less newsprint and ink, its second-largest expense. She cited difficult economic conditions for the changes.

Does it concern me when I read:

Kentucky's largest newspaper says it has reduced the size of some of its sections in print editions. ?? The Courier-Journal told readers in its print edition on Monday that it will no longer have a separate business section for Monday through Saturday editions. Business news will appear in the Metro section. On Tuesday through Saturday, there will be two pages dedicated to business news in the Metro.??Classified advertising sections have been dropped for the Monday and Tuesday editions, and the Features section "will be tightened." A new four-page "Weekend" section will replace Friday's "Extra" pullout section. ?? The front-page notice says the changes were to ensure the paper "remains healthy and able to continue serving this community for the long-term future."

Sure it concerns me, but what would scares the heck out of me is the thought that if a newspaper, as an industry, has to cut back further, due to an economic crisis, and just where will people be able to get news. Maybe from individual bloggers who can post anything, incognito of course, and not have to have a valid fact to back it up.

You can tear this newspaper or any newspaper apart, all you want. Laugh at typos, complain if your kid’s sport isn’t covered, judge the judgment of editors, rake reporters over the coals and use words like jerks, that rag or they never get anything right.

But then give yourself five minutes, just five minutes to really use your God given brain and think about what our local community society would be like if there was not a local newspaper. Does it concern you?

Now, don’t go starting any rumors, The Leader-Herald is just fine. We have loyal and longtime subscribers and advertiser who know and support the value of a local newspaper.

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Member Comments

View Comments: | 1-4 | Post a comment

Discobulous
01-08-09 12:40 PM »Report Abuse	The LH should be safe if for no other reason than because we have a population that stands by its traditions and will continue to pay for what is trusted and familiar. Besides, where would our high percentage of wood-burners be if there was no newspaper to start their fires with?
Patriot1
01-07-09 3:51 PM »Report Abuse	An objective news source is very important. Blogs, op ed articles and the like represent personal opinion along with fact. Objective articles both in print and on the internet are at a premium, and the consumer must analyze purported fact carefully to determine which news sources are credible.
teendude
01-07-09 1:07 PM »Report Abuse	old man naif or mr.A said he doesn't sell one third of the newspapers he did 10 years ago.
rsoxfan33
01-07-09 11:43 AM »Report Abuse	I feel that it is only a matter of time before newspapers will be obsolete. There are just so many other sources of news these days that people can pick and chose where and how they get their information. Although it would be a shame to lose local news stories, even if most of them are about drunk driving and public tomfoolery..

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