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Last Updated: Dec 25, 2008 - 10:26:29 AM |
From the day I began building the East Iowa Herald in November, 2007, I knew this day could arrive - but I never really thought it would. The support I've received from people in Victor and around East Iowa has been phenomenal and it far surpassed anything I expected. Thank you. I will remain forever grateful for it.
I really hate reading about newspapers declining. I especially hate reading about my own newspaper shutting down on my own front page. Many people in the industry blame the Web - newspapers give their content away for free so why should people subscribe? And if people don't subscribe, then advertisers lose interest. Certainly, our changing technology plays a role in the demise of newspapers but I think many of the problems are self-inflicted. In the case of Gannett, which recently eliminated 10 percent of their workforce and closed two local papers, the company is still making money - they are profitable. They just aren't earning as much as they'd like or need to earn. That is definitely not the situation of the Herald.
Yet in my case, the problems are also self-inflicted. When I started this newspaper, I didn't budget for a sales staff - virtually all of the advertising has come to us, rather than the (more traditional and effective) other way around. That was clearly a mistake as my competitors had sales people out to pick up new business while I waited for the phone to ring. Unfortunately, there really wasn't much of a choice - this entire venture has been a personal investment - the money for a sales staff simply wasn't there. I hired a reporter instead in the belief that better coverage was more important than sales - but clearly, both are critical.
I waited until the money ran out to take this action - and that, to me, is not a happy prospect given the state of the economy. I waited so long because I feel a strong sense of responsibility to the communities this newspaper serves. Victor deserves to have a newspaper - the support for it is there. Unfortunately, I couldn't come up with the financials to make it work. There is much good in this area that deserves coverage - both locally in print and globally on the Web - and I wish I was able to continue to provide it. But perhaps most of all, I regret walking away from HLV. I believe this year's boy's basketball team has the potential to go even further than the highly successful Warriors of last year and I am sorry that I won't be there to cover it. The kids work hard and they deserve the publicity.
Dan DeBettignies, the publisher at Marengo Publishing Company, told me that they would do the best job possible at covering the area. I believe him and hope to support him in doing so.
In terms of advertisers, one of the tenets of my business model was to provide low cost advertising to small businesses. Particularly today, few locally-owned businesses can afford to spend a great deal for advertising. I still think that model could be successful - but I was unable to make it so. For that, I sincerely apologize.
The past year has been filled with longer hours than I could have imagined and also experiences that surpassed anything I could have conceived. As I've mentioned numerous times over the past year, the people in this area are second to none that I have ever encountered anywhere in the world. I am grateful to each of you for your friendship, integrity, support and honest thoughts. I am grateful that you have allowed me to share in your lives. I am grateful to the columnists - Wayne Shaull, Susie Turnbull, Ron Pexa, Pastor Doug Morton and Joe Simmons - all of whom, through their talent, made this paper unique and successful with the readers. I am grateful to our advertisers - some of whom took a chance with us early on and I am eternally grateful to you, the reader of this newspaper. To each and every one of you, I apologize for not finding a way to make this newspaper work.
Over the past year I’ve taken a small amount of heat for appearing as though rose-colored glasses were a permanent part of my wardrobe. I won’t apologize for that - I meant every single word. I have come to love the people and lifestyle here (the cold temperatures I’m still working on). It has truly been my privilege to write about you in the pages of this newspaper - it is an honor that I will always hold near to my heart. You have revitalized my faith in the moment in more ways than one and the young people have restored my faith in the future. I can’t begin to describe what that means - I am grateful.
And, on the plus side, I am looking forward to attending a basketball game without having to see it through the viewfinder of a camera. I think this is going to be a season to remember.
Finally, I wish each of you a heartfelt Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I am certain that for all of us, the best is yet to come.
© Copyright 2008 by The East Iowa Herald
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