TODAY'S LETTERS: Newspaper Circulation Numbers

By: E&P Staff Readers wrote in today about E&P's extensive coverage of newspaper circulation numbers.

First FAS-FAX Numbers: Many Top Papers Take Big Hits
I read your article on declining newspaper circulation with interest. I noticed that the papers with increasing circulation have been a bit more daring about getting out of the cozy relationship the press currently has with politicians and business leaders.

I wonder if there is some way to find out if declining readership is due to the loss of independence that reporters now have due to the unprecedented buyouts of the news media in general? Need I say Murdoch?

I don't see relentless reporting as a general rule or, if I do, I only see the story printed once with no continuing followup until something is done about an issue, like in the old days. An important story should remain on the front page for weeks or months at a time and continuously shout until an issue is resolved. Lou Dobbs is doing this with great effect. Why give in to a desire to always have something new on the front page?

For example, the fact that we now officially torture prisoners should remain on the front page day after day until it stops. Instead, it appears once in a blue moon and then is replaced by something new. When Watergate happened that story remained on the front page until the resignation. Surely, the fact that our leaders now support and implement torture should be an unending, mind-numbing, shrill, bugle call until such time as we stop. Where are you people on this? Where are you?

Frankly, to those in the press, I say, where are your guts? The press now behaves like Colin Powell, knowing that something is rotten but seeking to preserve a nice income, prestige, and invitations to exclusive parties, at the expense of our nation, being ever so careful not to make too much noise, just a peep here and there, while we are sinking into an abyss of cruetly and selfishness.

Sincerely,

David Ausman
Arlington, Va.



With the arrival of Clay Bennett at the Chattanooga Free Press, the South will gain one of the few cartoonists whose work is always a classic example of true art and a biting commentary on the issues of the day. I'm going to miss him and wonder who can possibly fare well in his slot at the Christian Science Monitor.

Wes Pedersen
Chevy Chase, Md.


The Daily Sun has a unique operation that requires any new home built to take the newspaper that is run by the developer.

It's not a real growth situation. It's a forced buy.


Bill Truett
New York Times Regional Media Group
Tampa, Fla.


In today's letters in your online edition a contribution from Bill Truett from the New York Times Regional Media Group made the statement that "the Daily Sun has a unique operation that requires any new home built to take the newspaper that is run by the developer. It's not a real growth situation. It's a forced buy."

Our newspaper is not a forced buy and we work incredibly hard to acquire new customers while exceeding the expectations of our current ones. It is unfortunate that someone from the New York Times group of professionals
would make a statement that is completely false.

He did make one correct statement in that we are a unique operation and hope to continue to be in that category for a long time to come.

James C. Sprung
General Manager
The Villages Daily Sun
The Villages, FL


Interesting circulation figures. One may wonder what 'adjustments' have been made on subscription rates - the Oregonian (historically), and L.A. Times (presently) drive me fruit cakes with their cut rates - say 'no' half the going weekly (5 day) rate, and they'll throw in the weekend.

Apparently our Fourth Estate fails to appreciate that for free we can call up daily rags from every nation on the planet sufficiently sophisticated to have communicative skills and a printing press.

I don't need to find a political message in the want ads or obits. And I wouldn't cough up a warm cup of coffee for the editor in chief of the LA Times to stand on my stoop and read his rag to me.

Stephen Mayfield


I wonder if newspapers will ever ask their former subscribers why they don't subscribe.

Mary Ann Parks


If these newspapers would only print the facts and dump their biases, which we readers perceive as lying about the news, then maybe, just maybe, they could gain back their circulation.

We can get that information today by going to multiple sources on the Internet and listening to talk radio.

This may not be our best solution, we understand that we still have to dig for the truth, but it's better than news papers or TV news.

That's the REAL problem. They lost their credibility and they did it to themselves by pushing their agendas, slanting the news (90% of reporters and editors are
Democrats) and lying about the facts. The same thing will happen to these news companies as they push their biases on the public through their Internet publications. People aren't stupid. Uneducated maybe. No, probably. But they're not stupid and sooner or later, they'll get to the truth. Lincoln said that.

Like Congress, I'd rate newspapers today, such as our Dallas Morning News, at 11% credibility.

I know from personal experience that our governments and the employees and elected officials are terrified of The People. And well they should be (Madison). They're terrified not because The People are inherently evil, dangerous or bad, they're terrified because they know The People, you and me, will sooner or later reach a point where they will just get completely fed up with the nonsense, and revolt.

With the newspapers, it's a decline in circulation. With government, people will just refuse to pay their taxes. Or vote.

Just a thought.

Greg Willis
McKinney, Texas