You have to read this positive story about STAT AUTHENTIC...OMG

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by Bob Lemke

Coaches Corner has not advertised in SCD for several months now. That's one of the reasons the paper's page count is down. Each 20 pages of ads that CC (or any other advertiser) buys pays for about 5 pages of editorial content. Without that ad revenue, the paper can't afford to maintain the editorial package without greatly increasing subscription rates . . . and that's a non-starter in this day of ink-on-paper hobby publishing.

Seems to me if they would have taken this step years ago they might not find themselves with so few subscribers now. Just a thought.
Edited to add: Not picking on anyone, but there is no victim here, IMHO.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

Seems to me if they would have taken this step years ago they might not find themselves with so few subscribers now. Just a thought.
Edited to add: Not picking on anyone, but there is no victim here, IMHO.

I don't think the timing mattered, Jeff. Every newspaper and every magazine in the country is in some serious financial trouble right now. Electronic media had eaten away at their circulations and, more importantly, at their advertising revenue.

Niche media, catering to small groups, such as SCD have fared worse than even the mainstream guys. Over the next couple of years, we're going to see almost every big city newspaper file Chapter 11.

I wish SCD well, but their long range prognosis isn't good, and it's probably not their fault.

I'm not excusing their relationship with CC, just stating that it probably helped keep them alive for a few extra years.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

I don't think the timing mattered, Jeff. Every newspaper and every magazine in the country is in some serious financial trouble right now. Electronic media had eaten away at their circulations and, more importantly, at their advertising revenue.

Niche media, catering to small groups, such as SCD have fared worse than even the mainstream guys. Over the next couple of years, we're going to see almost every big city newspaper file Chapter 11.

I wish SCD well, but their long range prognosis isn't good, and it's probably not their fault.

I'm not excusing their relationship with CC, just stating that it probably helped keep them alive for a few extra years.

Jim,
You may very well be right. I guess I am old school as I still take delivery of two newspapers daily. Nothing quite like the 5:30 AM cup of coffee and the editorials before the brood storms the Bastille.

Jeff

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

Jim,
You may very well be right. I guess I am old school as I still take delivery of two newspapers daily. Nothing quite like the 5:30 AM cup of coffee and the editorials before the brood storms the Bastille.

Jeff

I get two papers delivered also, but looking up and down my block at 6:00 AM, the rest of my neighbors seem to get zero or one (about a 50/50 split.)

If not for the comics, I couldn't get either of my kids (16 and 20) to touch a paper. This is not to say either is not informed about what's going on in the world. Compared to most kids they keep up with everything. They just get their info from differents sources.

The one thing I have tried to point out to them is that the internet provides instant info but it's immediate nature removes much of the nuance of after-the-fact media (newspapers, magazines, even nightly news.)


They think "news" comes from The Daily Show. I'm not sure they are wrong.

[barrysloate]

I still love reading my New York Times every morning, but it's bare bones and has a daily cover price of $2 (obscene). But it does have the boxscores (if the game didn't start too late) and a great crossword puzzle, so I'm still in. One of these days I think I will pull the plug on my subscription; it won't be easy.

Regarding SCD, I think the real value in its heydey was there was no better way to find good stuff. It was a cornucopia back when it topped off at nearly 400 pages. When all the dealers left, the paper was useless. Say all you want about the negative influence of Coaches Corner, but if the magazine still had good cards for sale subscribers would turn a blind eye to it. Don't forget that in this hobby stuff trumps everything.

[Jay Wolt]

It was a cornucopia back when it topped off at nearly 400 pages

This weeks edition.....is 34 pages!

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I still love reading my New York Times every morning, but it's bare bones and has a daily cover price of $2 (obscene). But it does have the boxscores (if the game didn't start too late) and a great crossword puzzle, so I'm still in. One of these days I think I will pull the plug on my subscription; it won't be easy.

Regarding SCD, I think the real value in its heydey was there was no better way to find good stuff. It was a cornucopia back when it topped off at nearly 400 pages. When all the dealers left, the paper was useless. Say all you want about the negative influence of Coaches Corner, but if the magazine still had good cards for sale subscribers would turn a blind eye to it. Don't forget that in this hobby stuff trumps everything.

Absolutely right Barry. I used to pay extra for the Priority Mail delivery (2 days) and still would feel too late when I saw something I wanted, called the dealer and found it had already sold. (Some guys paid for the Overnight delivery!)

Ebay did a huge part in killing that, because their system is instantaneous.

[Vintagedegu]

-

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

I don't think the timing mattered, Jeff. Every newspaper and every magazine in the country is in some serious financial trouble right now. Electronic media had eaten away at their circulations and, more importantly, at their advertising revenue.

Niche media, catering to small groups, such as SCD have fared worse than even the mainstream guys. Over the next couple of years, we're going to see almost every big city newspaper file Chapter 11.

I wish SCD well, but their long range prognosis isn't good, and it's probably not their fault.

I'm not excusing their relationship with CC, just stating that it probably helped keep them alive for a few extra years.

I still don't understand why my neighbors get the newspaper...every single one of them do and I know every single one of them has the internet. The Lincoln paper is on the net word for word..including the classified ads. $250/year for something they can access for free.

[barrysloate]

Dan- there is something about holding a newspaper in one's hands that can't be duplicated by the internet. Same with books. There was a time when it was thought that books would become obsolete and everyone would read them online. But it hasn't happened yet.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Dan- there is something about holding a newspaper in one's hands that can't be duplicated by the internet. Same with books. There was a time when it was thought that books would become obsolete and everyone would read them online. But it hasn't happened yet.

It will happen someday. Kindle (I think that's how it's spelled) and other like it are really picking up. I can even see schools going to this kind of technology in the not too distant future. It's cheaper, easier to store and friendlier to the environment.

I get the appeal of laying out the paper and reading it during breakfast...I used to do it all the time. Now I just move the keyboard out of the way and eat my cereal while reading the Lincoln paper online. Kids of today probably for the most part will never take a newspaper as they are all acquainted with the internet.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I still don't understand why my neighbors get the newspaper...every single one of them do and I know every single one of them has the internet. The Lincoln paper is on the net word for word..including the classified ads. $250/year for something they can access for free.

I need the Sunday newspaper to read every morning. It's just not the same with a notebook computer in the bathroom. We only take the Sunday paper and I read different sections each morning. I still like the newspaper. BTW, it's very interesting in Dallas right now. There was a big column this last Sunday about the subscription price going UP substantially. The parent company of the newspaper is trying something different. They feel if they have a good value people will pay (even pay more). To that end they have just hired a bevy of new reporters and are EXPANDING their footprint and scope of the newspaper. It reminds me of that lady baseball postcard that has been on ebay for about 2 yrs. Everyone has seen it as a $3900 BIN (probably a $50 card). About a month ago they raised the BIN to $4200....I don't think their strategy is going to work....I hope the newspaper's strategy does.....

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I still don't understand why my neighbors get the newspaper...every single one of them do and I know every single one of them has the internet. The Lincoln paper is on the net word for word..including the classified ads. $250/year for something they can access for free.

Dan,
Setting out on the veranda/porch/sunroom with a cup of coffee every morning with two papers and the crosswords is easily worth (to me) what I pay for the paper. It's one of life's little pleasures. Besides if everyone did what you do, it wouldn't be free anymore is my guess. So in a way they're paying for your paper too. You've got great neighbors.

Jeff

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

Dan,
Setting out on the veranda/porch/sunroom with a cup of coffee every morning with two papers and the crosswords is easily worth (to me) what I pay for the paper. It's one of life's little pleasures. Besides if everyone did what you do, it wouldn't be free anymore is my guess. So in a way they're paying for your paper too. You've got great neighbors.

Jeff

If they ever decide to charge online for the paper people will just get their info elsewhere. As I said earlier, I understand the pleasure of reading the paper and relaxing, but it will go the way of the dodo bird someday...Large newspapers all around the country are folding left and right, and our population is still largely made up of the baby boomers...once they (we) are gone printed newspapers will be antiques.

[barrysloate]

Sadly Dan is probably correct.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Sadly Dan is probably correct.

Barry,
Good thing we won't live forever! No newspapers, what would I swat my son with?

Jeff