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Brazil Times

A message from our Senior General Manager

Thursday, July 2, 2020
By Jeanne Burris
The Brazil Times Senior General Manager, Jeanne Burris

When it was announced in April we would be cutting our print days from four days to two, we said it would be temporary because of the coronavirus pandemic. That’s still our plan.

The change was put into place when our advertising revenue — especially inserts — dropped drastically because businesses decided not to advertise as much during the pandemic. In order for us to continue to be profitable and pay our bills, we needed to find a way to save money, while keeping you informed of important updates as well as reporting on important issues going on in our community.

Gov. Eric Holcomb’s plan to reopen Indiana entered its final phase earlier this month. People are slowly starting to get out more and hopefully will spend money at our local businesses. That, in turn, will help all businesses, including us.

We are realistic and understand it will take time for our local businesses to return to their pre-pandemic profit levels. We also understand it will take time for some of our advertisers to come back to us on a consistent basis.

 That’s why we’ve decided to continue our two-day-a-week printing scheduled at least another month or two. Our website will continue to be free for those who are print subscribers and it will be updated every day with the latest news. If you are experiencing issues while trying to get online please call us and we’ll help you get that issue resolved. We have found some subscribers may not have given us an email, which is needed to access our online edition. We are here to help you.

The Brazil Times remains committed to bringing you up-to-date news and sports coverage in print and online. We know you appreciate what we do because you’ll share with us from time to time, both the good and bad. Either way, we know you’re reading our products. And you want our products, while we pride ourselves in serving the community.

Some have asked if we’re going to reduce our subscription rates during this change in print schedule. It’s a fair and valid question.

As I shared, we will continue to write stories, take photos and share on our website every day what you normally see in the newspaper. It takes a lot of time and work for our reporters to produce that information, whether it’s online or in the newspaper. Those reporters also receive a paycheck every two weeks. In order to meet our obligations, we won’t be reducing our subscription rates. But do look forward to when we can all look back and know we supported each other.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during these difficult times. I encourage you to email, call or stop by the office if you have any questions.

And most importantly, thank you for reading and supporting The Brazil Times.

 

Jeanne is the Senior General Manager for The Brazil Times, Banner Graphic and Greene County Daily World. She can be reached by email at jeanne.burris.braziltimes@gmail.com or by telephone at (812) 446-2216.

Comments
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  • Have you thought about offering on line subscriptions at a reduced rate? Perhaps more would sign up with reduced rates for online access. We do this with many newspapers we subscribe to as that is how we read our news. Just a thought.

    -- Posted by dugandterry on Thu, Jul 2, 2020, at 8:52 PM

  • As a subscriber since July 1996 I don't mind paying the subscription because of the importance of supporting our local paper. It is the least I can do since I can no longer be an advertiser. As I told your predecessor, Lynne, when we ran Computer Central we could "feel" the difference in our business when we did not advertise.

    -- Posted by LifeObserver on Fri, Jul 3, 2020, at 8:47 AM

  • How can you justify ethically charging subscribers $24 for 3 months when if you live in Brazil you are only paying for one 75 cent paper a week? This is equal to $3.00 a month worth of paper not $8. It doesnt cost that extra $5 in gas a month to grab a paper when I am out. You have received the last $24 from me.

    -- Posted by angcox1 on Fri, Jul 3, 2020, at 9:09 AM

  • These are tough times for all of us, and the one thing I still look forward to is reading the Brazil Times, which has been in business for well over 100 years. The newspaper business has probably been struggling for at least the last 10 years with the internet and social media outlets.

    So I guess it comes down to the question, are we as a community willing to support our local newspaper? I know that I am! It's not only a service to our community but part of our history. I hope others will understand the importance of keeping our local newspaper, along with supporting all the other local businesses that give our community it's life through this pandemic.

    I am sure there are many people struggling right now during this pandemic. It's not only financial, but it is life changing in our social activities too. We can get through this, but only if we all remember to be kind and help our fellow man along the way. Just ask yourself, what would life be like WITHOUT the Brazil Times.

    -- Posted by shopgirl54 on Sat, Jul 4, 2020, at 9:31 AM

  • This isn't an "ethical" issue, this is a financial issue. They are still providing daily news, but it is now on-line and not in print.

    We are all strapped during these trying times so it is understandable that some would choose not to pay for the newspaper on-line, but that is a choice you have to make yourself. The Brazil Times is a business, it has to sell its product to stay in business.

    It makes me so frustrated when I see people comment on their articles on Facebook that they are being ripped off because they can't see the story. Well that is because you have to pay for that service. They post a headline to get your attention so that you will buy their service, just like advertisements. If you don't like just reading the headlines then buy the service or delete them so you can't see them.

    I personally think that it's a crime when someone takes a picture or screenshot of an article and reposts it. This to me is theft of services.

    Maybe the Times should consider trying to find a way that people could pay for an individual copy so that someone could just purchase the daily paper to read the story, or stories, they are interested in. Just a thought!

    -- Posted by tcschurick on Tue, Jul 7, 2020, at 7:20 AM
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