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Show Out-of-area mail service, mail rates threaten papers A free press is one of our greatest strengths as a free nation. But while a newspaper's right to publish a broad range of views, to air controversy and to provide a forum for public comment is a basic premise of our liberty, the right only extends as far as the advertising dollar will permit. In other words, a free press doesn't come cheaply. Just like every other business, the newspaper publisher has a payroll to meet and bills to pay or the presses will stop rolling. It's especially sad in a close-knit community when the presses stop. The local paper is the major source of news about city council actions, school activities, high school football games, club notes and a broad range of news that larger newspapers don't see fit to print. The fact is, community newspapers are facing challenges from all sides right now. And not all are winning. For example, a mail service known as Advo is taking a serious toll in weekly newspaper revenue. Recently the Box Elder News in Brigham City died, a victim of local advertisers who placed their ads in the Florida-based Advo. The News was the Saturday edition of the Box Elder News and Journal. Businesses like Smith's Food King, Safeway, Oscc Drugs and others using the mail service were credited with the demise of the Box Elder News. The irony of this is that local advertising dollars, generated by local retail sales, are being shipped out of state by businesses who depend on consumers who shop at home. The very businesses who urge customers' to shop locally take their business elsewhere when it comes to advertising. And this is happening throughout the state - including north Utah County. This would be understandable if the advertisers were getting a better deal, but they're not. In Brigham City, The Box Elder News and Journal offered better rates to the supermarkets than Advo did for the same circulation. Locally, this newspaper also offers lower rates for our circulation area than does Advo -- and still businesses like Smith's and Kentucky Fried Chicken send their advertising dollars to Florida. For you that means a little less space in the newspaper to print school news, Eagle Scout awards, and all the other news you can only get in these pages. And it means when you shop at these stores, you are supporting businesses that don't support the concept of shopping at home. In addition to the challenges from Advo, community -newspapers are being burdened with unprecedented postal rate increases. Just this year, the US p Service increased our rates 75 percent for us to mail th' newspaper to you. lhe Carrier delivery isn't feasible for weekly publicatio and the post office offers the only reliable method! guaranteeing delivery to every home in our circulati area. But that reliance on the post office has mad" community newspapers vulnerable to rate increases Dealing with the postal rate increases while com peting with Advo is a balancing act many weekl' newspapers are struggling to' learn. And oth challenges are coming that will make it even harder J members of our free press to earn their way. r Community newspapers like this one are one of th most important resources a city can have. Tl newspaper helps define the community identity J forms its readers and keeps an eye on the public's business as it is conducted by various governing bodies In his National Newspaper' Week message, President Reagan said, "History has confirmed that an in. dependent and responsible press is essential to the maintenance of a truly free society." That's an ideal which can be furthered by support for those businesses that shop locally for advertising, and by encouraging fair postal rates to bring the free press to your door. . i |