By: Forrest R. Church, Publisher
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
This is not a ploy to pull at any heartstrings. If I’m being honest, I struggled with whether to write this week’s column. I’ve kept a lot to myself in 2024; in past years, I would have fired off two-page columns on issues we face professionally and personally. Because it is an election year that often places family and friends at each other’s throats over different views, I really worked at trying to stay calm and not stir the pot too much. You can imagine how community members are often more than willing to express their opinions online, especially on our social media or website pages, regarding certain topics. With that said, I do feel this concern is important.
In our tight-knit communities of Williams and Fulton Counties, many of us know someone who relies on Social Security as a financial lifeline. For some, it’s a modest supplement to a retirement plan, while for others, it’s the primary source of income. However, as inflation continues to rise, the stability that Social Security once promised is being tested like never before, at least in my lifetime.
Inflation, often referred to as the “silent thief,” erodes purchasing power, making everyday essentials more expensive. For those on fixed incomes, like many Social Security recipients, this means that the monthly checks that once covered the basics now fall short. The cost of groceries, healthcare, and utilities has surged, leaving many seniors and disabled individuals grappling with difficult choices. This affects Republicans, Democrats, Independents, people of faith, those not of faith, and everybody else I failed to mention.
While the Social Security Administration has responded with cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), these increases often lag behind the actual rise in living costs. This year’s COLA, though higher than in previous years, still leaves gaps in covering the real expenses faced by beneficiaries.
The struggle is not just about numbers; it’s about real lives and the dignity of our community members who have contributed to society throughout their working years. In our local towns, the effects are tangible. Food banks are seeing increased demand as more seniors seek assistance. Community organizations are stepping up, offering resources and support, but the challenge is immense.
Over the past six months, we’ve heard from numerous loyal readers, many of whom have been with The Village Reporter for decades. These cherished members of our community have shared heartfelt stories of how our newspaper has been a staple in their lives, connecting them to local news, sports, and the vibrant events that shape our towns. However, with inflation reaching unprecedented levels, many of these devoted subscribers are facing tough decisions. Just this past week, two of our elderly readers reached out to express their regret at having to cancel their subscriptions. The rising costs of living, from groceries to healthcare, have stretched their fixed incomes to the breaking point, forcing them to make difficult choices about their expenses. One such reader made my day by saying how much they appreciate our efforts and have watched the paper grow and blossom over the decades, but they can no longer afford a subscription ($2.00 a week).
When we can, we try to find a way to ensure these readers continue to obtain the paper. But frankly, we are selling the newspaper for $2.00, averaging 40-60 pages (around 4 cents per page). Other area newspapers provide 8-12 pages per edition using a lot of “filler news” and charge $1.75 (around 20 cents per page). We are essentially 75% cheaper, 100% local news (no fillers), 100% family owned and local resident community operated (tax money stays in Northwest Ohio instead of going out of state to non-local corporations), 100% color, everything we publish is also provided online at no additional fees, and we send a free E-Edition on top of providing free obituaries that save families $200-$800 per listing (visit the obituary section and do this math on your own for just this week’s edition then multiply that by 52 editions a year then multiply that by 23 years of publishing obits for free).
This is NOT to toot our own horn. I believe when you give you do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. I’m being brutally honest to let our readers know we likely profit less than 5% off a newspaper subscription; often, it costs more than $2.00 per print (before mailing) when we have a bigger edition like this week. So our charity does have an end point. With six postage increases and printing costs skyrocketing (some due to tariffs and paper prices), we have nothing left to give, and if we did, we would put our company and team in perilous positions. Some in my circle have heavily encouraged a subscription price increase as we are the only company not to adjust our rates as inflation destroyed our profitability.
Twice in the last two years I have heard stories of amazing gifts given to community newspapers by community members that financially could afford it. These stories are well over a thousand plus miles from Northwest Ohio but similar in size to the communities we serve. One story was during COVID where a small newspaper was possibly going to close. Out of the blue, a community member walked into the front door and gave a check that carried their operation for months noting the importance of community news. I heard another story that I believe was two years old now. A community newspaper was in financial trouble and a financial gift came out of thin air in the mail. In both instances, the newspaper let the need be known publicly and an unexpected blessing came.
I do not share these stories because I am asking for additional support of our small business (it would be nice though) but I am letting the need be known for some in the communities we serve and beyond that we would love to help further than we can do on our own.
The above mentioned numbers and inflation facts are not just numbers on a page; they are a reminder of the real impact economic challenges have on our community. Each subscription represents a relationship built over years, a shared commitment to staying informed and engaged with the world around us. Losing even one subscriber is a loss felt deeply by all of us at The Village Reporter. As a community-focused publication, we are committed to finding ways to support our readers during these trying times.
As we approach the holiday season and the dawn of 2025, we are reminded of the profound impact that community support and kindness can have on our lives. In the spirit of giving, we are excited to offer an opportunity for our readers to “gift” subscriptions to those who cherish our newspaper but find themselves unable to afford one due to the current economic challenges.
This initiative is not new to our community; in the past, we’ve seen the heartwarming gesture of individuals gifting subscriptions to elderly residents in nursing homes, ensuring they remain connected to the stories and news that matter most. But that effort came directly from certain community members, to the best of my knowledge we did not let the need be known like I am doing now.
Drawing inspiration from the Christian teaching that “you do not have because you do not ask,” we encourage those who wish to bless others this season to consider this meaningful act of kindness – we are simply letting the need be known. By gifting a subscription, you provide more than just news; you offer connection, engagement, and a sense of belonging to those who may feel isolated.
To participate, simply email us at publisher@thevillagereporter.com or call during business hours 419-485-4851. We will create an invoice that can be easily paid by credit card, or if you prefer, a check can be sent in. This process ensures that your gift reaches those who will truly appreciate and benefit from it.
These gifted subscriptions can remain anonymous, or if you would like your name shared, we can do that too. Subscription prices may be found at www.thevillagereporter.com/subscribe-renew or by reviewing the subscription form inside this week’s edition.
Thank you for considering being part of our journey and for considering this opportunity to extend the gift of connection.
That is it for this week. I’d love to hear from you. As always, feel free to reach out to me at publisher@thevillagereporter.com or via mail at 115 Broad.