Editorial: Timing

When a businessman comes to town, he has a plan for its location, items for sale, hours to be opened and a support staff to ensure that the public is well served.

There have been cases in Lenox where people come and locate and take the attitude-hit or miss. In the eyes of the late Ross Tane, owner of the Sound of Music, business people come to Lenox to play store. Mr.Tane got a lot of pubilicity with his quote on the local business climate at the time.

Now comes a local individual, who feels the need to create a publication for the county, which will be supported by advertising. There is no reinvention of the wheel-pure and simple economics plus the goal to publish news and features.

Now there are two hats here-editor and publisher.

The editor part is to take young professionals and create a product that will be well read, honored by its journalism ethics and create a light into local and state government business. Also to factor in the private sector of non-profits, businesses and profiles elected and those special people.

A community newspaper is about the community, good and bad, newsy and/or compelling information-read with a flare.

The editor’s goal is to create an editorial laboratory for the preparation of young people who seek a career in journalism. They are paid to cover meetings, seek out stories and use a camera to capture the moment.

Also sports writers, who write about one’s child, the team effort and the success or loss of a team during a season. We have had an open door policy for young scribes.

There are the delivery personnel who put miles on their vehicles to ensure weekly delivery of The Berkshire Beacon and The Berkshire Sonata. Then there is the extra graphic gal to ensure the file is transmitted correctly to the printer in Attleboro. Of course, there is the printer’s bill.

On the publisher’s side is the control of money to be sure ads are paid for and that checks are issued by a business manager. To say the least it is a weekly juggling fete.

Why the editorial today?

The concept needs to be said that the dream of this editor/publisher came true and the newspaper was created to not only inform but to stand for awards by its association and become a hallmark in light of social media.

Yet, if the community and its large and small businesses can’t or are unwilling to support such a newspaper, then the end result is closure. Like other businesses, money is the lifeline to success.

We have had a number of sales personnel knock on your door in an effort to seek your advertisements.

It is you who determines if there is a free press in these economic times. Think for a moment what the replacement may be-if any?

If you think our product is worthy and its value has meaning, then your duty as a businessman is to contact us for print advertising.

There will be no fall-back position.

The life thread rests on you the local businessman whether you sell auto parts, new or used cars, offer medical advice or service the health industry and/or offer a place for the retired.

We, as a community, succeed or fall by individual support.

Both as an editor and publisher, this has been a fun run…I can only leave it in your hands as to the future of this local weekly newspaper.

Posted by George C. Jordan III on August 1, 2013. Filed under Editorials,Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry