Earlier this week, a reader with the moniker the fly responded to our editorial about the groundbreaking ceremony for the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Monroe.
The fly wrote:
What the paper wrote was While some in Monroe and Green County would have rejoiced in the demise of the Supercenters plans, Wal-Marts expansion will be a positive economic development for the city and county. What I read was. While the majority of the voters did not want a Super Wal-Mart, Wal-Marts expansions will have a postive impact on The Monroe Times advertising revenue. Who cares about them small businesses that do not purchase full-page ads. The Times will scratch Wal-Marts back, so Wal-Mart will scratch theirs.
Fly, I can agree with you on the first point. An overwhelming majority (68 percent) voted against a very large retail supercenter store coming to Monroe in an April 2005 vote.
But on your second point about advertising revenue, well ... are you serious?!
First, advertising revenue has no impact on news stories and opinion pieces that are published. None. Zero. Zilch. Period. In fact, our newsroom and most others in the U.S. probably cause their ad reps more headaches than you could ever know with the stories they write or in some cases, dont write.
But if, Fly, advertising revenue did influence editorial decisions, I suspect the Times editorial board would not have had the same Our View it did on Monday. Not sure where youve been, Fly, but Wal-Mart isnt exactly a fan of newspaper advertising. In fact, for most of Wal-Marts existence, its gone out of its way to avoid advertising in newspapers. While wed love to get those full-page ads from Wal-Mart, were not holding our breath, Fly.
A Wal-Mart Supercenter coming to Monroe isnt at all likely to be the boon to The Monroe Times that you think it is. But we do happen to think it will be good for the community. So we said so.
The fly wrote:
What the paper wrote was While some in Monroe and Green County would have rejoiced in the demise of the Supercenters plans, Wal-Marts expansion will be a positive economic development for the city and county. What I read was. While the majority of the voters did not want a Super Wal-Mart, Wal-Marts expansions will have a postive impact on The Monroe Times advertising revenue. Who cares about them small businesses that do not purchase full-page ads. The Times will scratch Wal-Marts back, so Wal-Mart will scratch theirs.
Fly, I can agree with you on the first point. An overwhelming majority (68 percent) voted against a very large retail supercenter store coming to Monroe in an April 2005 vote.
But on your second point about advertising revenue, well ... are you serious?!
First, advertising revenue has no impact on news stories and opinion pieces that are published. None. Zero. Zilch. Period. In fact, our newsroom and most others in the U.S. probably cause their ad reps more headaches than you could ever know with the stories they write or in some cases, dont write.
But if, Fly, advertising revenue did influence editorial decisions, I suspect the Times editorial board would not have had the same Our View it did on Monday. Not sure where youve been, Fly, but Wal-Mart isnt exactly a fan of newspaper advertising. In fact, for most of Wal-Marts existence, its gone out of its way to avoid advertising in newspapers. While wed love to get those full-page ads from Wal-Mart, were not holding our breath, Fly.
A Wal-Mart Supercenter coming to Monroe isnt at all likely to be the boon to The Monroe Times that you think it is. But we do happen to think it will be good for the community. So we said so.
