The Monroe Times and the Monroe Shopping News, along with publications nationwide, have recently been presented with one of the biggest challenges our industry has faced with tariffs on Canadian newsprint.
The Monroe Times has already editorialized that the 30 percent tariffs on newsprint will create a significant obstacle that can't be ignored. The federal government has taken our second-highest expense, after paying our employees their wages, and increased it by approximately one-third.
Any business confronted with such an unbalanced, unplanned expense would have to make some reflective decisions. In some industries, the additional cost can be passed on to the consumer. Being one of the smallest daily newspapers in the nation, we can't expect our readers to absorb that cost.
The Monroe Times relies on subscriptions and retail advertising to pay its bills. If we told subscribers their in-county subscription price was going to increase by the rate we need to pay the newsprint tariff, we would unfortunately lose readers.
Our weekly shopper, the Monroe Shopping News, is a strong product and is well liked in the community. We mail 19,300 copies to areas of Green, Stephenson and Lafayette counties. The only repeated changes we've been asked to make with the Monroe Shopping News are to increase its circulation and adjust the day it comes out to better suit consumer needs.
Knowing that newsprint is the lifeblood of the Monroe Shopping News, we will not make changes to the publication itself. People have told us they love the publication just the way it is.
When it comes to newsprint and the Monroe Times, the situation is complicated. Being a small daily newspaper that isn't driven by strong retail advertising sales, we have to address the number of newspapers we publish each week. People have been getting six newspapers a day in their subscription for ages. When adding printing and newsprint costs together, it doesn't take long to realize that perhaps the best way to address the tariffs is to adjust the frequency of newspapers we publish.
How can we do this and remain relevant? In what ways can we use technology to help us present news of the community, while reducing the newsprint we have to purchase?
The answers may appear evident, but we're aware that by having to address the tariffs, we have to make changes to a community institution. Even though we're a private business, we respect the opinions of our readers and advertisers. People understand we have to do something to pay the tariffs. We are trying to gather the information necessary to create the best possible solution.
Last week we began publishing a survey in the newspaper, asking readers their opinions on a number of key aspects of our operation. During the Stateline Expo last weekend, we collected dozens of thoughtful responses. The questionnaire is available in our newspaper, on our website and on our Facebook page. Gathering this information and talking to readers will help guide us to a solution that will help us maintain and grow our readership.
Our six-person management team at Morris Media of Monroe, which has 125 years of combined newspaper experience, has been meeting at least twice a week for the last two months to consider our options. We have talked to other newspaper publishers. We have considered the political nature of the tariffs. Even if a short-term solution eliminates the tariffs at the federal level, our current business model is compromised as long as those who support the tariffs remain in office. The tariffs aren't likely to go away.
We don't see an end to news on ink and paper. Community newspapers have been around in Wisconsin for more than 175 years. People want to hold the newspaper in their hands and many are not comfortable reading news on a screen. We are respectful of how all people want to receive information and we want to deliver news in as many forms as is practical. Digital technology gives us a broad range of platforms to enhance the paper product.
Through April and May, we're going to have a discussion in the community about the Monroe Times. We want to know your likes and dislikes with the Times. We want to know how we can continue to help businesses grow.
Many people see us as a community service. While we provide a public service, it is essential we generate more revenue than expenses to operate. Just like any other business, we want to be strong for our associates and business partners. We've already made changes in the last year that readers have told us they appreciate. We want to live up to our heritage.
We ask for the public's help and support as we go through this public conversation about your Monroe Times. We will find the best way to continue to serve the public's needs while overcoming the financial challenges we face.
- Matt Johnson is publisher of the Monroe Times. His column is published Wednesdays.
The Monroe Times has already editorialized that the 30 percent tariffs on newsprint will create a significant obstacle that can't be ignored. The federal government has taken our second-highest expense, after paying our employees their wages, and increased it by approximately one-third.
Any business confronted with such an unbalanced, unplanned expense would have to make some reflective decisions. In some industries, the additional cost can be passed on to the consumer. Being one of the smallest daily newspapers in the nation, we can't expect our readers to absorb that cost.
The Monroe Times relies on subscriptions and retail advertising to pay its bills. If we told subscribers their in-county subscription price was going to increase by the rate we need to pay the newsprint tariff, we would unfortunately lose readers.
Our weekly shopper, the Monroe Shopping News, is a strong product and is well liked in the community. We mail 19,300 copies to areas of Green, Stephenson and Lafayette counties. The only repeated changes we've been asked to make with the Monroe Shopping News are to increase its circulation and adjust the day it comes out to better suit consumer needs.
Knowing that newsprint is the lifeblood of the Monroe Shopping News, we will not make changes to the publication itself. People have told us they love the publication just the way it is.
When it comes to newsprint and the Monroe Times, the situation is complicated. Being a small daily newspaper that isn't driven by strong retail advertising sales, we have to address the number of newspapers we publish each week. People have been getting six newspapers a day in their subscription for ages. When adding printing and newsprint costs together, it doesn't take long to realize that perhaps the best way to address the tariffs is to adjust the frequency of newspapers we publish.
How can we do this and remain relevant? In what ways can we use technology to help us present news of the community, while reducing the newsprint we have to purchase?
The answers may appear evident, but we're aware that by having to address the tariffs, we have to make changes to a community institution. Even though we're a private business, we respect the opinions of our readers and advertisers. People understand we have to do something to pay the tariffs. We are trying to gather the information necessary to create the best possible solution.
Last week we began publishing a survey in the newspaper, asking readers their opinions on a number of key aspects of our operation. During the Stateline Expo last weekend, we collected dozens of thoughtful responses. The questionnaire is available in our newspaper, on our website and on our Facebook page. Gathering this information and talking to readers will help guide us to a solution that will help us maintain and grow our readership.
Our six-person management team at Morris Media of Monroe, which has 125 years of combined newspaper experience, has been meeting at least twice a week for the last two months to consider our options. We have talked to other newspaper publishers. We have considered the political nature of the tariffs. Even if a short-term solution eliminates the tariffs at the federal level, our current business model is compromised as long as those who support the tariffs remain in office. The tariffs aren't likely to go away.
We don't see an end to news on ink and paper. Community newspapers have been around in Wisconsin for more than 175 years. People want to hold the newspaper in their hands and many are not comfortable reading news on a screen. We are respectful of how all people want to receive information and we want to deliver news in as many forms as is practical. Digital technology gives us a broad range of platforms to enhance the paper product.
Through April and May, we're going to have a discussion in the community about the Monroe Times. We want to know your likes and dislikes with the Times. We want to know how we can continue to help businesses grow.
Many people see us as a community service. While we provide a public service, it is essential we generate more revenue than expenses to operate. Just like any other business, we want to be strong for our associates and business partners. We've already made changes in the last year that readers have told us they appreciate. We want to live up to our heritage.
We ask for the public's help and support as we go through this public conversation about your Monroe Times. We will find the best way to continue to serve the public's needs while overcoming the financial challenges we face.
- Matt Johnson is publisher of the Monroe Times. His column is published Wednesdays.
