I have looked over the East Hartford Gazette, a weekly paper, which is part of the troubled group of newspapers that own the New Britain Herald and the Bristol press, but is unique in that it has a circulation of 19,100 and is delivered free by a carrier network to every town resident. Because it is free to its readers, you may ask how it survives. The answer is simple: through its advertising program. If you are in business and wish to reach all the residents, you could advertise through this media since the cost would be much less than advertising with a daily newspaper or even direct mail.
An option would be to connect with the Record-Journal in Meriden who successfully operates five weekly newspapers such as The Berlin Citizen, The North Haven Citizen, The Plainville Citizen, The Southington Citizen and the Town Times.
In the event that The Record-Journal has no interest in opening a local office to handle the New Britain’s daily news issues, it may be interested in issuing a weekly paper not only for New Britain but for other area towns that will be affected by the pending closure of the conglomerate news group.
New Britain Mayor Timothy Stewart along with his counterparts including our area state legislatures should arrange a meeting with the publisher of the Record-Journal in order to initiate a common ground of interest for both the newspaper and our City that could resolve our expected loss of news coverage for our city. It may be possible to convert the Herald to a successful weekly like the Gazette, which will make the paper once again profitable for its investors, while at the same time providing a local news source for New Britain residents. If this were to happen, it would be a “win” for everyone.
Sincerely,
Frank Smith
What you suggest makes good sense, Frank, but at least we have you here in town to keep us informed as to what is happening.
ReplyDeleteThe experience of a direct delivery (USPS) weekly usually works well in areas that have a smaller circulation. The cost to
ReplyDeletedeliver to all addresses in a city
like New Britain is often cost prohibitive. You would probably have the same number of advertisers
as lets say Plainville but the number of houses could be more than
triple.
Certainly this upcoming 2009 municipal election would probably
be a good year to "hit the ground
running" with a new weekly. Lots
of ads at full price rates!!!
I am hoping the Record Journal might seriously take a look at our
city. Their Citizen newspapers are
great publications.
The 2000 census shows the population of East Hartford at 49,575 and New Britain with a population of 71,254. The difference between the 2 towns is roughly the same as the population of Plainville.
ReplyDeleteAccounting for multiple people living within the same household, the Gazette publishes a circulation of 19,000, roughly 40% of the population of the town. If we use the same 40% estimate for New Britain, that would amount to a circulation of 28,501--roughly 9,000 more than the Gazette.
To make this enterprise successful, the advertising rate would have to be higher to account for the additional circulation, but rightfully so. A New Britain business advertising in this new publication would reach every household in town. What other advertising media can offer such a proposition?
As the previous posting indicates, a political campaign advertising in this paper would reach every single household. That is a promise that the existing Herald can't make.
To the last post. Any publication today needs to hold advertising rates within reason. Businesses are failing at an alarming rate and
ReplyDeleteadvertising is usually the first cutback. It is not a tangible purchase rather "hit or miss". I agree that we need to keep negotiating with newspapers to find
a solution for New Britain. Getting news to every household would be fantastic. But we also need to understand how any prospective newspaper company would set up a profitable business plan with a free publication. From experience it is difficult. I do believe that we could offer alot of advertisers. Small to major supermarkets could insert their flyer each week. A faith based page would offer areas for our churches to advertise. Senior pages, liquor depot, the new AJ Wright just to name a few. When our leaders speak with prospective
papers, we need let them know what we can potentially offer in advertising revenue. I appreciate you statistics and I am not aware of the exact bulk mailing rate for
mailing a paper to each address in
New Britain. Something to find out.
Editorial and news stories do not generate revenue and are a cost to the publication with staff etc.
I imagine based on these blogs that we would have lots of letters being sent!
To the last post, perhaps we could just study the business practices of the East Hartford Gazette since that is a FREE publication that is so profitable that the Journal Publishing Co. is keeping it while dumping the New Britain Herald and Bristol Press! Why not bring in Mr. Bill Doak, the publisher and founder of the Gazette as a consultant to help set up the new publication for his parent company?
ReplyDeleteSo much for not being able to set up a free publication that is successful.
Having the state legislators and other political leaders from New Britain or any other town involved may lead to potential problems if they are involved in establishing any type of newspaper, weekly or daily.
ReplyDeleteThe main question might be: Would the paper feel obligated to endorse these people in future elections, simply because of their help?
Before focusing on a future without the Herald, you're better off trying to make sure the Herald remains. One thing at a time.
ReplyDeleteFrank,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is generating rich discussion about a variety of topics, and is very much a part of the future of community journalism.
I don’t know what’s going to happen to The Herald. The Journal Register Co.'s ownership of it has been a shameful disaster. The JRC didn’t even try to get the little things right.
Why aren’t there tons of comments on Herald stories? The Courant gets a lot of reader engagement. Your blog does, but The Herald? Nothing.
Even when I was working at The Herald, people pointed to free newspapers, such as the East Hartford weekly, and said free printed publications are the future. They aren't.
The future of community journalism will be online. It won't be about any one publication, but the sum total of all that's online. It will include bloggers, Twitters, and even the people who post comments on blog posts -- a rich mix that also includes, hopefully, ad-supported, publications that can provide professional and reliable 24x7 coverage.
It will be a wonderful future.
Imagine how an online reporter will work.
Take a pending ZBA action, for instance. Advanced coverage may include scanning zoning maps and reports and putting them online. Photos and perhaps video of the affected property fill it out. The reporter brings a video camera to the meeting to record reaction. When the vote is taken, the reporter, connected wirelessly, sends out a bulletin via Twitter. (For instance: ZBA approves Frank Smith variance 4-3. Frank ecstatic.). The news is immediate. Other people at the meeting may use their cell phones to send, via Twitter, their initial feelings. The community is engaged. (Twitter is an amazingly important tool; it’s become a major resource in disasters, such as the Mumbai attacks.) The reporter files a more complete story with video, where the discussion continues.
Imagine the possibility? A river of information is made available, and with improved access to it city residents can become more engaged and participate in new ways. New Britain residents will have access to richer and more detailed information, and will be in much better position to offer their expertise and specialized knowledge. New Britain will benefit greatly from this sharing, and that will be a major goal of a professionally operated online publication.
The City of New Britain can help this transition by putting more of its inner workings online. That can include posting the entire Common Council packet and all the memos and reports that go into it. Building permits, property transfers, should be posted as well. Police activity could be made available. If The Herald closes, the best thing the city can do to help bloggers, like yourself, is make government information accessible. (Obama plans to try to do something similar with Federal data -- he wants a "Google for government. I'd love to see a "Google for New Britain.")
But there are many people in New Britain who don’t own computers or they have systems that are out-of-date and incapable of handling much of what’s on the Web today. They may not have broadband and can’t afford its monthly charge. Computer literacy is still an issue for many, many people. As a result, a printed newspaper may still have a decent audience in New Britain, but it will be a declining audience. The future is moving inexorably online.
That said, I hope something can be done to keep The Herald and The Bristol Press in operation. With the right owners and a new mission, those publications can help their communities bridge this shift from print to online.
If those newspapers close, the void created by it will be filled, eventually. It’s already starting, in a way, Frank, thanks to efforts like yours.
Best,
Pat Thibodeau
Officials in effort to save the New Britain herald and the Bristol Press which includes 11 weeklies has hit a brick wall because in a Hartford Courant Article written by Christopher Keating he cites a comment made by the state’s Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, Joan McDonald, as saying the state will only act as a "facilitator" and is not interested in owning any newspapers.
ReplyDeleteShe furthered her comments by saying we are not in the business of “bailouts.’
The politicians are barking up the wrong tree. Why would we want the government involved with running a newspaper? Do we want the government dictating what can be printed in the paper? If an investor is not willing to make a go of it running the Herald, then we are better off without it. I would rather have no paper, than one that is controlled by government agents.
ReplyDeleteAre we really ready to head down that road, with government run and controlled newspapers in America?
Wasn't that already tried in Nazi Germany and the Communist Soviet Union?
Despite what the council Democrats might think, America is not ready for communist run newspapers.
Isn't Pravda a state run newspaper?
ReplyDeleteThe comments made by Pat Thibodeau makes a lot of sense. However, he was correct in saying many people don't have computers, particularly Senior Citizens, who also may not have cell phones. Some may not have access to Cable TV, so would be unable to access the televised Council meetings. TV news is fine (Channel 3, 8 and 30) but does not cover local news for all towns. The Herald may not be perfect but it does provide a decent service to many.
ReplyDeleteA report in today’s New London Day newspaper states that The Journal Register Company who owns the New Britain Herald that it is closing many of their weeklies in our state.
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad that the local readership will be experiencing the loss of their news source.
It is hopeful that the local business owners will at least attempt to re-establish this important local news and inexpensive advertising source.
Maybe the State officials should be involved in finding a purchaser as they are with their attempts in accomplishing the very same results for the Bristol Press and the New Britain Herald.
one of the better informed, well read, village idiots said...
ReplyDeleteWeekly newspapers are failures?
The Journal Inquirer reported today that Bill Doak, Editor for the past 21 years of the East Hartford Gazette has made an offer to buy the Gazette from its troubled owner--The Journal Record Co.
If weekly newspapers are so destined for failure as previously reported on here, then why is the guy who probably knows more about publishing a weekly paper than anyone else in Connecticut negotiating to buy one personally?
Perhaps Mr. Doak is privy to some celestial knowledge that the rest of us are uninformed of?
December 23, 2008 11:22 AM
one of the better informed, well read, village idiots said...
ReplyDeleteWeekly newspapers are failures?
The Journal Inquirer reported today that Bill Doak, Editor for the past 21 years of the East Hartford Gazette has made an offer to buy the Gazette from its troubled owner--The Journal Record Co.
If weekly newspapers are so destined for failure as previously reported on here, then why is the guy who probably knows more about publishing a weekly paper than anyone else in Connecticut negotiating to buy one personally?
Perhaps Mr. Doak is privy to some celestial knowledge that the rest of us are uninformed of?
The New Britain Herald has announced today that the talks on saving the newspaper will resume this coming Monday the 29th.of December.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said……….
ReplyDeleteThe New Britain Herald (newbritainherald.com), Serving New Britain, Conn., and surrounding areas
News:
Commissioner: 6 potential buyers interested
Monday, December 29, 2008 10:37 PM EST
By JACKIE MAJERUS
and STEVE COLLINS
Journal register news service
HARTFORD — There are at least six potential buyers eyeing The Herald of New Britain, The Bristol Press and 11 weeklies, according to state and municipal officials who met Monday to discuss the looming closure of the newspapers.
“We are guardedly optimistic” that a deal might be struck, said state Economic Development Commissioner Joan McDonald.
Five of the six are already talking to the broker hired by the Journal Register Co. to try to sell the Central Connecticut papers slated to close in mid-January unless a new owner takes over, the officials said.
The other possible buyer, an anonymous New York newspaper veteran, met earlier in the day with the mayors of Bristol and New Britain. Both mayors expressed hope he might snatch up both dailies.
“We are pretty optimistic that this might materialize,” said Mayor Timothy Stewart of New Britain. “The prospects are pretty good that somebody will save these local papers.”
State lawmakers and economic development officials said their role in helping to land a buyer for the troubled newspaper chain is pretty much over unless someone asks for their assistance. Instead, they said, buyers and the broker hired to sell the papers are talking.
“We’re stepping back,” McDonald said.
It remains murky, though, who might be interested at a time when newspapers are taking it on the chin across much of America.
At least one is another newspaper company that responded to a letter sent out to 16 media firms by the state Department of Economic and Community Development, McDonald said. The Journal Inquirer of Manchester is also in the mix, according to Stewart.
Three of six prospects had been talking to the broker, the New Mexico-based Dirks, Van Essen & Murray. Another was put in touch with the broker through state Rep. Tim O’Brien, a New Britain Democrat. The other read about the papers’ plight and contacted the DECD, McDonald said.
The sixth prospect is the one the mayors spoke with in Stewart’s office Monday.
Both Stewart and Ward said the New York buyer is the most promising of all.
“He’s most real,” said Stewart. “I think the prospects are pretty good here. They are looking to maintain that hometown nature.”
The mayors wouldn’t name the individual from New York, but said he has many years experience as an editor, is not connected to any Connecticut paper and is not part of a newspaper chain.
“He does come from a strong background in journalism,” said Stewart. “He was very promising.”
Ward said he was “definitely, definitely interested” and has the financing in place to pull it off.
“Hopefully this will amount to something in the very near future,” Stewart said.
Neither the JRC nor the broker has ever disclosed how much money they’re seeking for the papers. Officials said they would not name any potential buyers for fear of jeopardizing negotiations.
O’Brien said that he and other lawmakers working with McDonald’s office helped generate publicity that may have spurred interest from a buyer.
“Our efforts have succeeded in getting the word out to potential buyers,” said O’Brien. “At this point, it’s in their hands.”
The five potential buyers who are speaking with the broker are “very much interested in doing something,” said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat.
“It appears that negotiations are getting serious,” Nicastro said. “It’s important that we move forward.”
The mayors of New Britain and Bristol said they each spoke with some of the same prospective buyers, but that each of them had been contacted by other potential buyers who were interested in just one of the papers.
Stewart said he spoke with someone from the Journal Inquirer, but Ward said he had not. Stewart said the Manchester paper was interested in both the Press and the Herald and that it was still in the running as a buyer.
Nicastro said citizens need their newspapers. He said he’s heard from many constituents about his work to help save the papers.
“The vast majority of the phone calls are saying, ‘Do what you can do to save the newspaper,’” said Nicastro. He said if people didn’t like it, he would hear from them.
Even if, in the end, no buyer comes through, at least they tried, Nicastro said.
“This can’t hurt,” Nicastro said. “This can only help the citizens of Connecticut.”
Selling the papers, though, has not proven an easy process.
Stewart said the records kept by the JRC that are being shown to prospective buyers are turning some of them away.
“The books aren’t the greatest,” said Stewart. “That’s part of the issue.”
Some of the concern, said Stewart, is whether the paper is viable. But he said a major stumbling block is that there just isn’t enough information in the books to make a reasonable judgment about the business.
Former Bristol mayoral contender Ken Johnson, who was part of a group that considered buying The Press, said that “the lack of information from the seller has been a primary impediment to submitting any purchase offer.”
Johnson said the broker “actually felt compelled to apologize for the lack of information.”
Another complication, said Stewart, is that the Journal Register Co. papers are so intertwined that it is complicated to sort out the truth about any particular newspaper.
Since the JRC notified employees in Bristol and New Britain on Nov. 11 that it intended to close the papers in 60 days, it has shuttered many weekly papers in southern Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The company is heavily in debt and its stock is worth less than a penny a share.
The newspaper industry as a whole is reeling, with many papers struggling to remain afloat in the face of shrinking circulations and declining advertising. People are shifting their attention online, where newspapers frequently have as many readers as ever, but profits are elusive.
“It’s a challenging time” for newspapers, McDonald said.
Friday, January 16, 2009
ReplyDeleteDeal to buy paper may be signed Monday
The word around the paper is that the deal to sell The Bristol Press, New Britain Herald and three weeklies to Mike Schroeder and his silent partner should be finalized on Monday.
Let's hope the Journal Register Co., the current owner, doesn't find a way to muck it up.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Posted by Steve Collins at 1/16/2009 11:56:00 AM
Labels: Bristol Press, JRC, New Britain Herald, newspapers