Indiana Weekly Goes Web-Only

By: Jennifer Saba The Bloomfield Free Press in Indiana is shuttering its print edition and plans to publish on the Web.

The paper's owner and publisher R. Michael Johnson cited the rising cost of postage, printing and materials for making to the move exclusively online.

The 2,000-circ weekly is distributed on Wednesdays. One-third of its circ is distributed through the U.S. Postal Service. Johnson explained he lowered the price of each edition to 75 cents as the economy hit a wall: It cost him $1 to mail each issue and in May, the price to mail the paper will rise by 5 to 6 cents.

Roughly half of the Free Press' revenue comes from circulation, explained Johnson, adding that it takes more to produce the paper than what the circulation revenue covers. He acknowledged the paper will take an overall revenue hit but expects to make it up within the next six months.

"With the Post Office's rate hike -- coupled with their less-than-stellar on-time and accurate delivery system, it is just becoming cost-prohibitive for us to continue to properly service our customer base," Johnson added.

In January, the Web site reported 8.5 million hits, according to internal numbers. Johnson said that within the next four months the Web site will require a subscription, though classifieds and obituaries will remain free.

The Free Press used independent contractors to deliver the papers. The Washington (Indiana) Times-Herald printed the Free Press.