Support Us/Don’t Take Local News For Granted

 I think it’s time to speak frankly with our readers, subscribers and social media followers about community newspapers and what we are seeing in our industry.

I’ve been with Sullivan Independent News going on 34 years and I’m concerned about the future of local news but also feel that local papers will withstand these changes in the world because people know we will report the news with the facts we have at hand and work to make sure they are facts not AI generated garbage from a digital platform.

Community newspaper, like our publications, have been able to withstand recessions, pandemics, digital marketing/social media explosions but it’s vital that if you want to continue to see your children and grandchildren in the paper, read about news stories in our community, be able to look back at our Remember When pages, record the history of our community that will stand the test of time once these digital platforms sell/close/evolve into the next generation the community newspaper will still be available but we can’t do it without you.

While our subscription numbers have remained steady and rack sales as well, now more than ever we need several things to happen to continue to proceed into 2024 and beyond.

When we opened our New Haven Independent News it was because the community leaders came to us, told us without our newspaper that closed three years ago we have no identity, we have no central area for people to get news and asked us would you please come to our community?

With a lot of thought and research we went forward and have had that publication for seven years and continue to try and provide coverage for that small community-they know exactly what its like not to have a local paper. The children were excited to see their pictures in the local paper again. Those pictures were up on their parents refrigerator, grandmas dresses mirror, posted on the school bulletin board.

People love getting free news from our social media site and digital media and for our company its a necessary evil.

I despise the unthought, uncaring, disrespect of people commenting on our posts, some targeted at us as we try to deliver the news we have before us accurately and as quickly as possible-we live in a McDonald’s Society we want it our way perfect in five minutes or less!

But let me give you some clear thoughts: according to a recent Associated Press article dated November 16, written by David Bauder, which by the way the Associated Press has begun soliciting donations to keep journalist employed, stated that on average in 2023 2.5 newspapers closed each week in 2023 and at the current pace estimates are 3,000 newspaper will close by the end of next year over the last two decades thus leaving some 6,000 remaining across the country.

Now you may think, “Digital outlets are growing and thriving!” Well, according to this study digital outlets have emerged to fill some of the newspaper voids but are closing as fast as new ones start, according to the AP article.

The article states that there is a clear demand for local news which was observed even more during the covid pandemic as people worked to keep local news being presented to readers.

What is scary is that the closing of newspaper and so many communities losing their news source and community sites open up spreading misinformation to fill news voids.

While here at Sullivan and New Haven Independent News publications we have continued to diversify our operations adding Missouri Possum Radio on the iHeart Radio App and Sullivan Printing our product that keeps everything moving forward is our news publications.

Our company family and our family at home want to make sure we get things turned around and going forward.

I ask that you purchase a subscription to the paper, if you don’t already have one or purchase for a family member, a high school friend that lives out of state, out of the area. We have our print edition and our electronic edition that is delivered to you each week through the mail system or email.

We have not raised prices on our newsstands nor our subscriptions in seven years. Your can get our print edition or e-edition for $40 or chose to receive both, just $40 total.

Also encourage your big box stores and fast food chains to bring back their inserts to your local paper.

Just last week I spoke with a customer who came into our office upset that two other grocers are not running their inserts in the newspaper but good old Town and Country Supermarket in Bourbon still does and she appreciates that! She stated, I don’t get online, I don’t like the internet, I can’t afford much but I shop from these inserts in your paper!

That, my friends, warms my heart and thank you Town and Country Supermarket, Bourbon, for sticking with us for more than 34 years!

People still want a local newspaper, still count on it and others need to realize what life will be like should it not be here.

I ask that you please support us with subscriptions, buying on the news rack, shopping with our advertisers and mentioning Sullivan Independent News, New Haven Independent News, Missouri Possum Radio and Sullivan Printing!

We need you to help us preserve and record the history of our community, to continue to provide you with vital news through all our formats and continue to volunteer and help our community.

Subscriptions are easily purchased in our office in person or by phone at 573-468-6511 or online at mysullivannews.com.

Thank you all!

James B. Bartle