No doubt, local papers are in trouble and some say big national papers will be the last standing. But there may just be something about the hometown rag that people are just not yet willing to let go of.
The Birmingham (Michigan) Eccentric is living up to its name and bucking the trend of local papers being cut off by their corporate parents.
With a circulation of around 6,000 in a city with a population that hovers around 19,000, the Eccentric was on Gannett’s schedule to follow the fate of similar papers in nearby towns and be shut down after 131 years at press.
In May, a few devoted readers and staff called upon the community to take action:
Town Hall Meeting to Save the Eccentric
Posted Date: 5/21/2009
Since it was announced that the Birmingham Eccentric would be closing its doors after over 130 years of reporting in the area, a group of concerned citizens and local officials from Birmingham, Bingham Farms, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills and Beverly Hills have been working with staff from Gannett Newspapers to keep the Birmingham Eccentric alive in our communities.
As a result of these efforts, the Birmingham Eccentric will remain in publication temporarily, and a more permanent reprieve is within reach. If an additional 3,000 new subscriptions can be obtained by July 1, 2009, and a total of 5,000 new subscriptions by October 31, 2009, the Birmingham Eccentric will continue to be published in our communities.
Join citizens and officials from the communities of Birmingham, Bingham Farms, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills and Beverly Hills for a Town Hall Meeting to Save the Eccentric on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at The Community House, located at 380 S. Bates Street in Birmingham. All are welcome to attend and show support for the Eccentric and share ideas for how this valuable community asset can be saved. You may also visit www.savetheeccentric.com to subscribe online.
Please pass this information along to anyone whom you believe would have an interest in saving an important local resource.
So began an impressive campaign, spearheaded by local resident David Bloom and the Eccentric’s editor, Greg Kowalski, that has included—among other things—negotiations at Gannett headquarters in Washington, D.C., a Web site (www.savetheccentric.com) where visitors can subscribe directly, and a persuasive argument for doing so:
The Birmingham Eccentric provides an important source of information to community residents about issues that directly affect our day to day lives and the communities where we live. The Eccentric provides vital information on local education, sports, business, government and everyday citizens. This news is truly unique to our area and is irreplaceable. What other source has been trusted and valued for as long as the Eccentric?
The Eccentric is also a key element in binding us together as a community and it is important that we work together to preserve our community during these trying times.
The time for action is now!
Please join in supporting the paper by subscribing today, the cost is just $1 an issue.
The Detroit News reported on Wednesday that the efforts had yielded 800 new subscriptions to date. While that does not meet the reported requirement of 3,000 new subscriptions by July 1, the paper prints on and its loyal readers continue their efforts to recruit their neighbors and save the Eccentric.
While other efforts to save local papers that have relied largely on petitions and publicity, as in the case of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, which went online-only earlier this year, have failed to forestall the decline of print dailies, there is still hope that the new tactics being tested in Birmingham will succeed. Either way, there will be lessons learned in the search for sustainability in local news. Here’s hoping for good news…
As a 16 year-old, my professional journalism career (now 42 years long) began writing up my high school's news for the Birmingham Eccentric. The editor and staff made time to encourage, instruct, greenlighting some pitches, refining others. Community newspapers serve an important role as newsgather, but, for countless reporters like me, these newsrooms in the community are critical for training the next generation of reporters. May this be the first of many innovative positive ideas to come out of Detroit this year!
#1 Posted by Ann Therese Palmer, Lake Forest, IL, CJR on Thu 9 Jul 2009 at 07:08 PM
My career began in 1972 as reporter, and then editor, of the chain of weekly papers that were the Eccentric papers' competition. While retired in 2004 following a 30-year public relations management career, I continue to freelance in PR/journalism. Community newspapers play a critical role in the health and vitality of any community and their loss is inestimable. No regional or major daily can provide the type of coverage and community support of local papers like the Eccentric. I also worked on the opposite side of the aisle of editor Greg Kowalski as a local government PR manager for many years and applaud his efforts to reverse Gannett's decision. Maintaining the Eccentric's viability is essential to the municipal-level support only community newspapers can provide. Our computer-heavy world cannot and should not replace the depth of knowledge, readability and the sheer touch of newsprint, particularly on a Thursday night after a long day of work or a Sunday morning at the kitchen table with coffee.
#2 Posted by Barbara Bartos, APR, CJR on Thu 9 Jul 2009 at 09:15 PM
When you are in uncomfortable position and have no cash to get out from that point, you would require to take the business loans. Because it will help you definitely. I get commercial loan every time I need and feel great just because of that.
#3 Posted by BALDWINDeana, CJR on Thu 8 Apr 2010 at 02:16 PM