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Opinion
The Record holding steady in uncertain times
By Tom Law
Thursday, June 5, 2008 9:34 AM EDT
Sharp-eyed readers of The Toccoa Record may notice something just a little bit different about this week’s issue.
Can’t quite put your finger on it? Well, simply put, the page is one-inch narrower than what you read last week.
As part of an industry-wide trend, and as a significant cost-savings company-wide, The Toccoa Record is using a narrower page of newsprint.
Much of The Record’s design remains the same, although you’ll see some slight differences on Page 1A.
With the rising cost of newsprint, and the fuel required to haul it from the manufacturer to the press plant, it only makes good business sense to try seomthing that keeps costs down. In the Community Newspaper group of 25 newspapers, to which The Record belongs, the annual savings will be significant to say the least.
It’s just one more way newspapers are trying to stay profitable and competitive in today’s communication market.
Stephens County newspaper readers have noticed in recent days some of those competitive changes in a pair of publications that have been long-time traditions in the Toccoa-Stephens County market.
The first is the absence of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Once known as the newspaper that covered “Dixie Like the Dew,” the newspaper is no longer available for purchase within Stephens Couty’s borders.
In an attempt to trim costs, Stephens County was one of the counties recently axed from the AJC’s delivery list.
This hit hard to some long-time readers here, including me.
Monday, the first day the AJC wasn’t available here, was the first day since the eighth grade that I didn’t start my normal day’s activities without reading the AJC.
And, I’m sorry, scanning that internet site just isn’t the same as holding that newsprint between my hands and mulling over the news.
I had a certain routine “ Sports first, then a quick scan of the Living section and finally ending with the Opinion page.
No more, unless I’m willing to travel to Habersham or Rabun County to buy one.
Don’t think I will with the gasoline prices where they are.
Local newspaper readers also have seen a giant change in the Anderson Independent.
That South Carolina newspaper, which used to have a bureau in Lavonia, went far beyond a sightly narrower page in its efforts to remain competitive. The newspaper unveiled its new tabloid size last month and the result was mixed opinions, at best.
In fact, the only responses I’ve heard have been unfavorable, but I don’t work for that newspaper so no way am I privy to all the reader response.
The bottom line is daily newspaper readers in Stephens County may be hurting for something to read.
Rest assured that the move to a narrower page for The Toccoa Record isn’t the beginning of a downward spiral that will mean you’ll only be reading your Record every Thursday via internet.
The Record’s readership remains strong and circulation steady. When the Georgia Press Association holds its annual meeting in a few days, I’m confident I’ll report to you The Toccoa Record has won several awards in the Better Newspaper contest. Advertising, the financial engine that enables the newspaper to continue operation, is good, although, like everybody else, is down some due to the national economy.
The truth is weekly newspapers have been relatively unaffected by the internet and other means of instant communication.
That’s because nobody but weekly newspapers is really reporting the community news that hits home to residents of small-town America.
Where else can you find out who died, who was born, who got locked up, was promoted at work, named elementary student of the month, who hit the game-winning home run or what kind of domestic trouble the publisher faces besides in The Toccoa Record.
The Record has been a part of Toccoa “ and later, Stephens County “ since 1873. That’s 135 years, folks.
I’ll wager you that the newspaper will be here 135 years from now, albiet on a slightly narrower page, perhaps.
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