Thanks for keeping up with the corporate situation. I read the e-Edition because (mostly) it doesn’t have pop-up ads. I wonder if any attempt will be made to lay these out on days when the paper isn’t delivered. In theory the website could be improved but you can’t get around having only four or five local reporters.
TDN is an institution that has been bought, sold, cut up and is barely hanging on. Owners have lured the readers into believing that each iteration of the paper is going to make it better, more relevant, etc. Each time this happens, the product is worse. Paying $450 annually for a product that’s useless and hard to navigate cannot be sustained. I’m not sure Lee is really interested in TDN. We’re a cog in their corporate wheel. Maybe we should look at the non-profit model other communities are adopting across the nation to save access and dissemination of local news. Saving TDN should be an effort worth undertaking. Can we find the will to do it? After 40 years living here in this paradise, I believe we could. Finding the leaders to do it will be the challenge.
Andre, I knew some of what you share about the paper's slow down-ward direction, but thank you for painting the whole sad picture. I saw right through the Sunday "explanation" by the editor, almost laughable in her points of why this would be an improvement.
AMEN to all you've written! I've only been here 6+ years, but was delighted to see a good local paper. It has sadly deteriorated to the point where I only subscribe to the e-version, and that's becoming questionable. The e-doc they send to my email is OK because I can look at only the local few articles. Trying to use the mobile app is a joke - ad after ad after ad, and its difficult to navigate. On top of all this, TDN tries to increase my monthly rate every six months, sending me a letter explaining the great "improvements". I call immediately, they offer a reduced rate, and finally agree not to raise my rate. I refrain from telling the operator that their paper is not worth one penny more than what I'm currently paying (and it appears every subscriber pays a different rate!) I totally agree with those comments recommending that they lose the AP feed, stick to local and timely reporting. Too bad we can't divorce Lee and produce a truly local newspaper right here.
Hear hear! A strong community needs a strong and impartial source of information about its goings-on. National and international news is better obtained elsewhere; TDN should ditch it all--except for illuminating the direct implications of state, national or international issues to our corner of the world. Done right, TDN could cut through the social media noise created by agenda- or ideologically-driven "citizen journalists." If TDN continues to fall short, I pray there is the will and ability to incubate and launch a professionally-created source of community news.
Your ability to understand and communicate the history, and this problem is remarkable. I thank you and hope for the future for our community and we have the Columbia river reader also doing a great job. Thank you, Andre.
I agree with your comments. Lee is only interested in “scraping the bowl”, getting all it can from the area with no investment in the community. Three times a week mail delivery, what a cruel joke.
I like the suggestion made. Local support is necessary to get this through. A company like Lee's only listens when its revenues are at risk. They have cut to the core and gutted an institution, they have a chance to right the proverbial ship.
Who reads breaking news on TDN??? I am wondering how does this paper stay in business? Shut it down. Thanks for the update and clarifying the ignorance.
Well said. I too care deeply for TDN and it's value to the community and have grieved for the steady decline over the past few years. The "expansion" was ludicrous. I agree with your description of what has caused the decline, not so sure if your solutions would really work. Is it too late?
Well said. I too care deeply for TDN and it's value to the community and have grieved for the steady decline over the past few years. The "expansion" was ludicrous. I agree with your description of what has caused the decline, not so sure if your solutions would really work. Is it too late?
Thanks for keeping up with the corporate situation. I read the e-Edition because (mostly) it doesn’t have pop-up ads. I wonder if any attempt will be made to lay these out on days when the paper isn’t delivered. In theory the website could be improved but you can’t get around having only four or five local reporters.
TDN is an institution that has been bought, sold, cut up and is barely hanging on. Owners have lured the readers into believing that each iteration of the paper is going to make it better, more relevant, etc. Each time this happens, the product is worse. Paying $450 annually for a product that’s useless and hard to navigate cannot be sustained. I’m not sure Lee is really interested in TDN. We’re a cog in their corporate wheel. Maybe we should look at the non-profit model other communities are adopting across the nation to save access and dissemination of local news. Saving TDN should be an effort worth undertaking. Can we find the will to do it? After 40 years living here in this paradise, I believe we could. Finding the leaders to do it will be the challenge.
Applause, applause, applause!
Oh my goodness, what a great read.
Spot on brother!
Andre, I knew some of what you share about the paper's slow down-ward direction, but thank you for painting the whole sad picture. I saw right through the Sunday "explanation" by the editor, almost laughable in her points of why this would be an improvement.
Lee will never do anything to help community news. Need a new "local news" paper.
The truth be told once again!! Thank you Andre for your honest opinion. I totally agree and sincerely hope that the powers that be will listen!!!
AMEN to all you've written! I've only been here 6+ years, but was delighted to see a good local paper. It has sadly deteriorated to the point where I only subscribe to the e-version, and that's becoming questionable. The e-doc they send to my email is OK because I can look at only the local few articles. Trying to use the mobile app is a joke - ad after ad after ad, and its difficult to navigate. On top of all this, TDN tries to increase my monthly rate every six months, sending me a letter explaining the great "improvements". I call immediately, they offer a reduced rate, and finally agree not to raise my rate. I refrain from telling the operator that their paper is not worth one penny more than what I'm currently paying (and it appears every subscriber pays a different rate!) I totally agree with those comments recommending that they lose the AP feed, stick to local and timely reporting. Too bad we can't divorce Lee and produce a truly local newspaper right here.
Hear hear! A strong community needs a strong and impartial source of information about its goings-on. National and international news is better obtained elsewhere; TDN should ditch it all--except for illuminating the direct implications of state, national or international issues to our corner of the world. Done right, TDN could cut through the social media noise created by agenda- or ideologically-driven "citizen journalists." If TDN continues to fall short, I pray there is the will and ability to incubate and launch a professionally-created source of community news.
Your ability to understand and communicate the history, and this problem is remarkable. I thank you and hope for the future for our community and we have the Columbia river reader also doing a great job. Thank you, Andre.
I agree with your comments. Lee is only interested in “scraping the bowl”, getting all it can from the area with no investment in the community. Three times a week mail delivery, what a cruel joke.
I like the suggestion made. Local support is necessary to get this through. A company like Lee's only listens when its revenues are at risk. They have cut to the core and gutted an institution, they have a chance to right the proverbial ship.
Yes! Dump the national stories we see online and tv. Make it a source of local news about our community!
Who reads breaking news on TDN??? I am wondering how does this paper stay in business? Shut it down. Thanks for the update and clarifying the ignorance.
Well said. I too care deeply for TDN and it's value to the community and have grieved for the steady decline over the past few years. The "expansion" was ludicrous. I agree with your description of what has caused the decline, not so sure if your solutions would really work. Is it too late?
Ann thanks for the comment. How is Ross doing?
Well said. I too care deeply for TDN and it's value to the community and have grieved for the steady decline over the past few years. The "expansion" was ludicrous. I agree with your description of what has caused the decline, not so sure if your solutions would really work. Is it too late?