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News and information for Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Making a move to mornings: A list of FAQs

 

As expected, the news that the Gazette has switched to a morning publication has brought a lot of response and some good suggestions from readers on what they'd like to see in the newspaper. Many thanks for those, and keep them coming.

We understand that for some the change conflicts with long-established reading habits. Some readers have already said they will drop the paper, while others cheered the news.

Here are answers to some of the questions and comments received.

Won't the Gazette miss a lot of news stories by printing in the morning?

Currently, with a press time of 10:30 a.m., most of the Gazette you pick up to read at 4 or 5 p.m. was written the day or evening before.

True, some news does happen after midnight, which will be our new press time, but our sports department already works from 4 p.m. to midnight. News reports from city council, selectmen and other municipal meetings are already written at night now, and business news as well as most of the state and national stories in the paper each day are available by 10 p.m. the night before.

With the exception of an occasional story that breaks early in the morning, everything in the paper today will be there when we go morning. We'll just be delivering it earlier, and we will be updating and posting stories throughout the day on GazetteNET.

What if I don't want to read the paper in the afternoon?

We understand that people have different schedules and reading habits. By delivering the Gazette first thing in the morning, it can be read anytime of the day: over coffee, at lunch, or in the evening. We're creating more options to meet the needs of busy readers.

I already get another newspaper in the morning? Why will I need the Gazette?

Regardless of the time the paper is printed and delivered, the Gazette offers a product unique from any other newspaper delivered in our circulation area.

A news staff of 50 devoting its attention to local news, sports and features is unusual for a newspaper our size. The strong local coverage of community news and sports, feature pages, Hampshire Life, special sections, commentary, and local arts and entertainment news, as well local display and classified advertising, will still be there when we start early delivery.

Those who worry about trying to read two papers in the morning can simply wait and read the Gazette at lunch or in the evening. We really believe that, because of its strong local content, the Gazette will have value no matter what time you read it and even if you also read an out-of-town newspaper.

When will the paper get delivered?

While the Gazette will be in stores and boxes by 5 a.m., home delivery will be 6 a.m. and youth carriers will have until 6:45 a.m.

Will the youth news carriers lose their jobs?

About half of our home-delivered papers are distributed by adults and the rest by youth carriers. We are working hard to keep as many of the youth carriers as possible with programs other papers have found successful.

We already offer college scholarships to young people who deliver for five years or more. We are adding other financial incentives and youth carriers will have more leeway in the mornings with delivery time.

Right now, many youth carriers quit their routes when they enter high school because they want to participate in sports and other after-school activities. We're hoping the time change will allow us to keep and even attract more high school students as news carriers.

Why change at all?

This is a business decision. The switch is one we know not all readers are happy about. It is a change that also creates a hardship for some of our employees.

In the end, however, we believe we can better serve readers and the community by publishing in the morning.

The newspaper, like any business, must make decisions that meet customer expectations and are also good for the long-term health of the company.

Attracting more readers - whether they buy the paper in stores, get it delivered or receive it online - is important to the economy of the newspaper. We believe, based on our research and the experience of others, that having the Gazette available first thing in the morning will help us grow the readership. We also think it will make the paper more valuable to advertisers.

In the early 1980s, 75 percent of America's daily newspapers were published in the afternoon. Now, more than 55 percent are published in the morning, and the shift from afternoon to morning publication schedules continues. This shift has been driven by changes in lifestyles and other social forces, the same ones we are now recognizing.

Will the paper change?

The basic mission of the paper will not change, but we are looking at ways to improve its content, organization and appearance, and that's why we need to hear from you. What would you like to see in your local newspaper? Drop us a letter or send an email to:

MyGazette@gazettenet.com.

We welcome your suggestions.