By: Joe Strupp The publisher of the Point Reyes, (Calif.) Light -- one of the few weeklies to win the Pulitzer Prize's coveted Public Service Award -- is stepping down, according to the San Francisco Business Times.
Publisher Robert Plotkin, who has run the paper since 2005, said he would be replaced by his wife, Lys, the Business Times reported.
"The paper won a Pulitzer prize 30 years ago, a history that publisher Plotkin worked hard to establish as a marketing hook in the paper?s largely rural circulation area," the story said, adding that he bought the paper for $500,000.
"But the economy, and by Plotkin?s admission his own sensibility, worked against the weekly paper?s success."
?In the last year, income at the Light has dropped 37 percent,? Plotkin wrote in a message to readers. ?This is not unique to the Light, although there have been some aggravating factors, namely myself.?
?My sensibility is at odds with many in the community,? Plotkin added, explaining why his wife will take over. ?She, more than I ? has the sensitivity appropriate for West Marin.?
Other changes include raising the news stand price to $1.25. ?It costs us $2.66 to produce, print and distribute each copy,? he said.
"In attempting to sell the paper, Plotkin said two bidders emerged," the story added. "One, the Marin Scope chain, ultimately bowed out, he said. And Plotkin nixed the other, a group he named as Mount Vision Associates. He said that group planned to fire the paper?s nine employees and leave Plotkin with a raft of expenses."
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