If you read the headlines in American newspapers (including this one) you might get the impression from a few marginally informed “experts” that newspapers are on their deathbed. I say hogwash.
Newspapers in general, and the Ledger-Enquirer in particular, remain the dominant sources of local news in their communities and deliver the only mass audience that in any way compares to the historical “Town Square” of yesteryear.
How do we know? Well, because you told us so.
You told us through our March 2008 Market Study, which indicates our daily paper is read by 111,350 folks in this community, a 12 percent increase over the prior two years. The study, based on information approved by the Audit Bureau of Circulation data, also revealed that our Sunday readership had improved even more – to 134,510, or a whopping nine percent jump. (The study period was Fall 2005 vs. Fall 2007).
If we’re dead, nobody told us. Our home delivery circulation continues to grow. Since January, we’re up 1.3% daily and 2.2% Sunday. This despite high gas prices, recession fears and general economic malaise. Things are tough in the news business, to be sure. And eventually I’ll probably write a thing or two about our challenges. But not today. We just got these numbers and it’s time to celebrate.
These figures are a tribute to you, the reader, our remarkably informed and engaged citizenry here in the valley. The numbers also say wonderful things about our staff here at the Ledger-Enquirer.
We are growing due to the efforts of reporters like Mick Walsh, a former U.S. airman who does a great job of covering Ft. Benning. And Dawn Minty, our features editor who oversees coverage areas ranging from religion, to nightlife, to motherhood. Or Mike Haskey, our photo chief, a player-coach who manages a staff, takes photos himself and keeps a great sense of humor all the while.
Speaking of humor, if he were alive, my fellow Missourian, Mark Twain, might have a thing or two to say about all this. If he were me he’d probably scratch his wild patch of hair and wrinkle his unwieldy white mustache and say something like: “News of our death has been greatly exaggerated.”
Ben Holden
Vice President & Executive Editor
No comments:
Post a Comment