Subscribe ‘Til It Hurts
If you don’t like what your papers report, don’t them let die. Force them to change. Scream and shout with letters and phone calls and e-mails to reporters and editors. Having a news source that angers you is better than not having one to scream at.
At the North Coast Coop, I am member 16663. That means that more than 16,000 people coughed up $25 for a membership that doesn’t provide any real benefits, aside from 10 percent off one day a month. Most are people who just like the idea of having a non-profit source for their food.
When times are good, I would never equate a for-profit publication with a non-profit organization. But, as Barack Obama reminds us, these are extraordinary times. For all intents and purposes, right now our small publications are not-for-profit. For now, we need to support them as we do public radio. Or we will lose them.
That means that even if it is free and convenient to read the paper online, pay for a subscription. The paper comes in handy. You can’t put the Internet over your head when it rains. You won’t let your puppy pee on your computer. It won’t protect your carpet when you paint and you can’t use it for paper mache or cheap gift wrap.
But enough. I’ve got to dig up a check for the Eye. And I think my floor just shook. Time to buy more Spam.
Marcy Burstiner is an assistant professor of journalism and mass communication at Humboldt State University. She subscribes to the Times-Standard, TheNew York Times and Salon.org. And now the Arcata Eye.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent media maven
May 17
If You Tweet in a Forest
April 5
Not in My Court Yard
March 1
Take the Money and Run With It
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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FIVE Comments
Comment / By John / March 5, 2009, 5:34 p.m.
What concerns me is that the largest city in the county, Eureka, has no community newspaper. If the T-S were to ever fold, it would leave Eureka paperless.
Comment / By Cindy Rawlings / March 6, 2009, 7:43 p.m.
Say it loud and proud. Local newspapers are a valuable resource. We deliver The World in Coos Bay for .38 a day six days a week. Lucky for us many readers are still reading the paper copy, but our FREE internet version is getting more readers than we have print subscribers. This is the model that is crushing big city newspapers - never planned a business model for revenue off the web, even the web advertising lasts longer and gets more views for less money than in the print version.
Comment / By Andrea / March 8, 2009, 7:55 a.m.
Great article. As a former ad rep I really appreciate the comment about letting people know where you saw their ad. Newspapers are community resources that are irreplaceable by any otherr media, no matter how convenient. I loved selling advertising and knowing the inner workings of how a newspaper thrives, as well as how editorial and advertising work in concert to inform our community. Our community is lucky to have so many dedicated publications that are scrappy and have hung in there through the birth of the internet and an ever waning readership.
Comment / By A laid off journalist / March 10, 2009, 12:01 p.m.
Newspapers are dying because they’re an inconvenience. Wasted effort, paper and money. The information is what’s valuable, not the paper. Here’s an idea. How about an internet-based local news Website? You know, credible, reliable journalists who produce local news content for a business that survives with local advertising. Besides, if there’s an earthquake that knocks out the city’s power do you really think you’ll be getting that paper delivered? Off to get more spam …
Comment / By unanonymous / March 14, 2009, 7:28 p.m.
its funny how the maven didn’t have anything to say about the preciou8s local paper when the Eureka Reporter was here. In fact, I kinda remember her spouting that their voice was too “rightwing” to be published. Papers are dying becasue snobs like burstiner do not reflect the readership.