Home > So, what do you think? > Archives > 2008 > October > 14 > Entry
Pardon our reconstruction
Folks, I hope you’ll bear with us for a little while as we tighten our belts and try to figure out how to best serve readers in tough economic times.
Many of you have noticed already that we’re moving features around in the Rocky Mount Telegram paper edition and that our page count on several days is fewer than what it has been in the past.
It’s no secret that newspapers everywhere face rising expenses and diminishing revenues. On the expense side, we’re victims of escalating fuel prices, just like everyone else. We’re also paying a bunch more this year for newsprint - the paper we print on.
On the revenue side, we’re getting whacked on two fronts. Retail advertising is down because advertisers are trying to cut expenses, too. They’re also scratching their heads and trying to figure out how much emphasis they should put on the World Wide Web and how much to continue with traditional print advertising.
We’re hurting in classified advertising, also. One of the benefits of a strong economy is a growth in Help Wanted ads by area employers. With unemployment in the Rocky Mount Metropolitan Statistical Area at almost 10 percent, fewer companies are hiring, and as a result, our Employment advertising is down.
On the circulation side, we’re wrestling to hold our own. We’ve dropped a few hundred subscribers in the past couple of years, as have a lot of newspapers across the country. Our Web site traffic, fortunately, has grown in leaps and bounds. We hit 1 million monthly page views for the first time In January. In September, that number topped 3.7 million page views.
We’re trying to save money by reducing the number of pages in our print product. By doing so, we hope to continue to deliver local news, sports and features to your doorstep without costing you more money.
Naturally, that involves some anguish on our part. We targeted our daily TV grid as one feature we could cut. We include TV schedules in an insert that’s included with our Saturday paper, so the daily grids seemed redundant.
In dropping the grid, though, we had to find other ways of accommodating our Dear Abby, Bridge and Horoscope features. I get more than an earful from readers whenever any of those features is inadvertently left out.
The result is an exeperiment in progress. During the next several weeks, we’ll be tinkering with the Telegram to figure out how to present the features that are most important to you in a way that helps us meet our economic goals, as well.
Comments and suggestions are appreciated. It’s easier to keep from making a mistake if we hear from our readers before we cut out something that’s more popular than we realize.
Right now, for example, we’re wondering about the future of our Friday Tech page and our Monday Travel page. They provide interesting reading, I think, but if we compare their value to, say, Religion, Marquee or Health, I think they have far less local content and are less read.
Tell me if you think I’m wrong about that. And any other thoughts would be appreciated, also.
Finally, thanks for your patience and for continuing to read the Rocky Mount Telegram, whether in print or online. We value your business, and we know what an important tool accurate information about local matters is in your lives.
Comments
By Steven
October 15, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
Speaking of the economy, why is the gas in Rocky Mount so much higher than in surrounding area’s. $3.20 in Roanoke Rapids and Nashville. $3.06 in Tarboro.
National average is $3.12. Are we being robbed by our local businesses or is there a good reason for the big difference. Maybe lower prices by these businesses would free up some income for everyone else.
By Phil Wheeler
October 16, 2008 6:22 AM | Link to this
Wow, everyone is having to cut back. We have so many threats to our economy. Global, National, State and local are all hurting.
I beleive that one of the biggest threats to Rocky Mount’s economy is the High Gas Prices we pay here. The Greed of the Gas gods is having a direct impact on our local economy.
We pay anywhere from 20 to 50 cents per gallon more than other local towns. I know of many people, including myself that now go to Tarboro or Wilson to buy gas.
While I am there I shop at their stores and eat at their resteraunts. My Wife and I enjoy the time we have together while driving 15 or 20 minutes to these other locations.
Since July, Oil and Gas Prices on the Market have dropped almost 50 Percent, yet in Rocky Mount Gas Prices have only dropped about 10 Percent. You do the math, we are being robbed at the gas pump.
By Ronald
October 16, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this
I decided to take advantage of Early Voting, so I went to the Rocky Mount National Guard armory, got my ballot, completed it and went to the voting machine, I inserted the ballot and it came back, I turned it over and it came back out again… I was instructed by the worker who was leaning on the machine to deposit it in the slot and it would be counted…..
This happened to several other voters while I was there. This was at about 9:35AM on Thursday October 16, 2008… I sure hope this is not part of an effort to steal this election….
By Ben
October 20, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
Concerning the downsizing of the Telegram and rising cost of producing a quality local newspaper, here are a couple of my ideas for you to consider.
One of the least read days of newspapers is the Saturday edition. Why not consider eliminating Saturday’s publication. You could post Church news and listings in Friday’s edition, plus the other needed Sat. news.
The Sunday Telegram could then be enlarged with more interesting local happenings that individuals, especially the older population, could relax and enjoy while resting and reading on Sunday afternoons.
As for the sports program, I know there are Friday night games, Sunday is a good time to read up on the athletes who participate. A large photo does not take the place of reading about individuals whose parents are interested seeing their child’s name in print.
Although there may be individual stars, othere players help to make that person a star. The Telegram’s sports page has a lot of improving in my opinion.
We have a college here in town that fields all major sports and their coverage is very limited. The greater percentage of sports is from wire, yet there are 2 sports writers and a sports editor.
I can remember when the Telegram had an editor and one writer and more local coverage was given everyday than with the larger staff. Kids need to see their name in print, parents will read and subscribe to the paper for that reason.
Finally, why not consider including the happenings that you now have on Thursdays to be in the Sunday edition. That page could have more written about events to inspire people to avail themselves for the entertainment they desire.
Sometimes in the week, individuals have so much to do, they do not read about the performing arts in the Rocky Mount readership and do not know what is happening.
These are just a few of my thoughts that might help and encourage readership and circulation and make the Telegram a better newspaper.
By Larry Collins
October 29, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Mable if knew what the words “Fair and Balanced” meant you wouldn’t be having these problems.