Letter from the Editor

True story: State Sen. Jim Nielsen stops by our Corning office for a visit Thursday, and PG&E shows up to turn off the power. That’s not exactly the sort of image one wants to portray, with an elected official or anyone else, but in a weird way it’s a good example of the challenges facing the newspaper industry.

Forget the snafu that led to the lights going off in the first place. Small businesses and homeowners all know the drill; they’ve been there and done that and life goes on. I’m even going to go out on a limb and predict the power is on today.

The bigger question in many people’s minds – our staff among them, perhaps – is whether the news industry has fallen on such hard times that it won’t be able to survive, much less pay its bills on time. The answer to that question is a resounding “no.”

Yes, the news industry is changing, and so is its business model. Expect to see more and more focus online, if only because that’s where younger readers go to get their news. We can shove a newspaper in their hands, but we can’t make them read. And that’s assuming they can read in the first place.

You can also expect changes in the print product. Some will be subtle, such as the narrower paper many news chains are using to save on soaring newsprint costs. Others will be more apparent, such as a change in typography, print quality and design. We’ve received many compliments in the past months that our newspapers look more attractive and inviting to readers. That’s good, very good.

Still there’s always room for improvement. We’re continuing to address the financial issues that existed when Tri-County Newspapers was purchased last year by Freedom Communications Inc., coupled with the same challenges faced by all Mid-Valley businesses related to the economic downturn. There are no easy answers to those problems, but rest assured we are working on them – just like you.

In the meantime, let me just say, “The check’s in the mail.”

Michael S. Green is interim editor of Tri-County Newspapers.