Due to continuing economic challenges, The Daily Dispatch will change its frequency from five times a week to three times weekly beginning in August.
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Blaskey said the move will increase the time reporters have to delve deeper into local news and provide more comprehensive coverage while posting breaking news immediately on www.douglasdispatch.com
The new schedule will take effect beginning with the weekend issue for Saturday, Aug. 2. The Dispatch will publish on Tuesdays, Thursdays and the weekend.
Friday night games will still be covered in the weekend edition, as it is now, and we will be providing sports updates throughout the week. News and sports don’t stop on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and neither will The Dispatch’s coverage.
“We examined trends for the last six months and with the lack of speed with which the state and national economy is recovering, and the continuing price increases we are seeing in every area,” Blaskey said, “It has become increasing difficult to produce the newspaper we want for Douglas and remain a profitable operation.”
The Dispatch is not exempt from the same pressures that one would have at any business – increased cost of gasoline, utilities, services and supplies.
“One major issue is the increase in newsprint pricing. It has gone up more than 40 percent over the last year, and is increasing by 3-4 percent a month, with no relief in sight,” he said.
Blaskey said there will not be major changes in staffing and believes the change will benefit the community and reader.
Increased size
“We will be able to have more local news in each publication. Each of the newspapers should be 12 to 16 pages instead of the typical 8 pages we have been publishing. “
Subscriptions, availability
Existing subscriptions for The Daily Dispatch will be pro-rated and extended based on the new printing schedule beginning in August.
The rate for a three month subscription will decrease from $22 to $14. All subscription rates will decrease by the same percentage.
Due to the new pricing structure, we have will eliminate the senior discount of $2 per quarter.
Single copy purchase, available through the racks and at stores, will go to 75 cents an issue. This is the first increase in price in more than 10 years, Blaskey said.
“The newspapers will continue to be delivered to the homes in the afternoon to allow youths to still act as carriers, but the racks and stores copies will be available for sale no later than 10 a.m. each publication day.
“The earlier print schedule will allow us to ensure that those who receive the newspaper by local mail – Douglas, Elfrida and McNeal – will be able to receive the paper in their box the same day it is printed,” he said.
Any questions can be directed to Editor and Publisher Larry Blaskey either at his work phone number at 364-3424, cell phone at 220-8775, or email at editor@douglasdispatch.com.
Comments
Ex Douglas Resident wrote on Jul 2, 2008 8:11 AM:
There are times when the website isn't even up to date.
Might as well end the whole thing. "
Rob wrote on Jun 30, 2008 2:35 PM:
Not from there anymore wrote on Jun 30, 2008 4:35 AM:
CA Resident wrote on Jun 29, 2008 6:24 PM:
Is there a possiblity of receiving the dispatch electronically through email for far away subscribers? Like a pdf file would be great. "
Hector MontaĆo wrote on Jun 29, 2008 2:59 PM:
People who live in Douglas tell me that they stopped buying or subscribing to the Dispatch because the price of the paper is not commensurate with the amount of news printed in it.
The price of the Dispatch is just about the same as the price of the Arizona Daily Star, yet the Star has about 5 times the pages, daily. It's not economics; it's the price. "
Grag wrote on Jun 29, 2008 9:22 AM: