We continue to hear stories about the decline of the newspaper industry, due to the pressures of the internet, rising cost of newsprint, etc. But there is something to keep in mind when you read about this decline. They’re not talking about us.
Local papers, like the Bitterroot Star, are not in the same category as papers that are part of national conglomerates. With those corporations, decisions are made in board rooms far from the Bitterroot, with people who are looking at the big picture, the really big picture. Which properties in the portfolio give the best return on investment, where can costs be cut, which jobs can be eliminated.
We have only one enterprise, the Bitterroot Star, and we’re really happy about that. Our small team can devote all its energy and talent solely to the Star and our Star customers and that’s what we’ve done for over 30 years. Sure, we’ve had our ups and downs. In fact, during the Great Recession we nearly had to close our doors because we couldn’t pay our bills. But the thing was, just about every business in the Bitterroot was in the same boat and we all did the best we could. We worked together and eventually we made it through. And now the future, here in this beautiful place we call home, is looking pretty bright.
Our business goals have always remained modest. Put out the best newspaper we possibly can, by providing the news and information that local people need and want, and support local businesses by giving them the opportunity to get their message out to their customers through advertising that is effective and affordable. Then we use those advertising dollars to subsidize the news and information that we provide. A beautiful cycle.
Lucky for us, folks that live in the Bitterroot still seem to enjoy a printed newspaper, as evidenced by the number of Bitterroot Stars that are read each week. We currently distribute 7200 copies, and at many of our newsstands we can’t keep up with the demand because the stands are emptied out within two days! We think we’ve come up with a pretty good system of distribution, with a combination of free home delivery where feasible, free at our many newsstands, and paid subscriptions for mail delivery when needed, as well as a popular website. We want it to be as easy as possible for you to get your hands on the Bitterroot Star.
We also have a website, bstarmt.wpengine.com, which just happens to be one of the oldest and most popular in the valley. It provides another easy way for people to get their local news. We’re in the process of redesigning our site so that it’s mobile friendly and folks who get their news that way should be pleased when we get that launched this spring.
We thank you for your continuing interest, loyalty and support.