The Local Paper
Cow can only imagine how much revenue has fallen at the local newspaper to require layoffs and enforced time off without pay.The paper is a shrunken shadow; only a pitiful skeleton remains.
Cow wonders at the strategy of keeping the price of the commodity low while reducing the quality. Why not increase the quality and raise prices?
Yes, there is that pesky ratio of cost versus number of units sold. Yes, we are in a recession. But with moovie attendance booming to historic rates, surely people who can afford moovies could also afford, say, a $3.00 Sunday paper. Or $4. Or even $5, but there better be TWO glossy magazines inside for that price!
With each slash the paper loses a paying customer. Cut off Bloom County? Now those devotees no longer buy. Orley Hood gone? As are his readers. Cut out the TV Guide? People who bought the paper just for that, gone.
Cow thinks nostalgically of the Saturday-available "Sunday" paper so temptingly offered in some cities.
Why not cut out the thin, crappy Saturday paper and make the big, beautiful, Sunday paper, with it's color-comic-wrapped heft whispering: "Buy me and you'll have something to read all weekend" available for Saturday shoppers? The major shopping day for most folks. Increase cost, increase sales volume by adding Saturday and Sunday buyers, increase profits.
Moo!
posted by The Topiary Cow at
7:59 PM
7 Comments:
I should send you a copy of our local paper. Then you will really feel like crying.
The weekend major newspaper is filled with sport, car and real estate. ALL BORING.
Hooray! I love sitting down on a Sunday and reading the paper. All my friend say "just read it online for free". not the same. I one of the crazies that pays $5 to get the NY Times up here in Boston and usually just does the crossword puzzle. I sure hope that the NY Times at least survives....
Cow luuuuuuves the NY Times....
Linda: sounds bad. No color comics? No Sunday advice strips? bah!
Moo!
I canceled not because of content but because of the circulation department. While I worked there, I authorized the paper to withdraw the subscription amount straight from my check. Instead of doing that, they turned me over to a collection agency.
If they can't even figure out how to charge employees for the paper, I sure don't want do deal with them now that I work elsewhere.
Agreed. Thinking of getting a NYTimes subscription just for this...
Sandi: Cow very happy that Sandi has found another employer who appreciates her talents!
Truly the circulation was very bad. When it got to the point of missing a paper every week, and sometimes more, just not getting delivered, that was when Cow discontinued. She is horrified at the tale of the collection agency.
Maybe, in fact, some companies aren't Too Big to Fail, and should.
Watercolor: Cow wistfully envious of anybody with a NYTimes subscription. No, we don't need their local news, but the Sunday paper is truly a thing of beauty.
Maybe they have Sunday-only subs.
Moo!
Is Ms. Cow aware that NPR cancelled ALL of their newspaper subscriptions today, with the exception of The Wall Street Journal?
Andy Rooney had a piece on last night's 60 Minutes about the news industry. Worth looking for, IMO.
~:>
PS: I miss Orley too. :(
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