Favorites return to Sunday Tribune

Change is difficult.

I’ve been reminded of that during the last two weeks after the weekday Daily Tribune went online only, even though The River Cities Sunday Tribune and our weekly Picayune remain in print.

But based on the calls, letters and conversations I’ve had, many of you are upset  about the Tuesday-Friday move to online. Several miss the routine of reading a paper in the morning while sitting down to coffee. Others feel like they were being forced to find their news on a computer.

We had no idea that some in the community would react this way to the change. So I want you to know we’re listening. Your comments are helping us create a better product.

And we are making many of the changes you asked for, starting today in the print Sunday Tribune.

• The crossword puzzle is back in the Sunday paper (and online every day).

• All of the week’s obituaries that were online are now in print, too, on Sundays.

• Your favorite comics have returned to the Sunday print edition.

• The television guide remains in the Sunday print edition, which is actually delivered on Saturday so the listings are current.

I know how hard change can be. I am a very traditional newsman. I can’t even program my cell phone.

I started in the news business in 1979, pecking away on an electric typewriter and laying out pages with an X-Acto knife and glue pots. Then came video-display terminals and pagination systems; today, it’s online newspapers, interactive Web sites and social media. Sometimes it makes me dizzy just trying to keep up.

And like many of you, I grew up reading a newspaper first thing in the morning, turning the pages and catching up with the past day’s events. I even threw newspapers from my bicycle as part of a route when I was a delivery boy.

I understand about a reader’s connection to the printed page. I have had to adapt, too. It hasn’t been easy.

So I’m asking, as your neighbor and your editor, for your patience and understanding.

It has only been two weeks since we made the transition.  As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and we’re still learning our way.

But understand this: What we did was the result of a business decision. Rack sales and subscriptions don’t pay the bills.

If we wanted to remain a healthy company while still delivering the news our readers count on, this was the only way to go.

Meanwhile, print and distribution costs are rising, not to mention the cost of newsprint (the paper the ink is printed on).

Advertisers moved to our Sunday Tribune and weekly Picayune, making those publications stronger than ever but leaving the weekday papers anemic.

I’m pleased that we can still offer two printed newspapers a week to readers.

Nearly all the callers and letter-writers, whether they agree with the transition or not, have said the same thing: The Daily Tribune is the best newspaper around.

Thank you. That still holds true, whether you’re reading the Sunday Tribune or getting it online. We have a great staff dedicated to delivering the best information products to our readers and advertisers.

But don’t think we’re going backward. We’re dedicating our resources to new ventures, and we’re moving forward. These are exciting times.

Finally, I want to personally say I would never do anything to chase away readers. My ancestors helped settle Burnet and Blanco counties. My family’s ties to this region span three centuries. Because of that connection, I feel a deep commitment to serve the people of this area. I would never betray that responsibility, nor would the staff or the owners of The Daily Tribune.

So stick with us. We’re not going anywhere. And if you don’t like something, call me. My straight line is (830) 693-7152 extension 127 and my e-mail is editor@thepicayune.com.

I am listening.

Edwards is the editor for news content at Victory Publishing Co. Ltd., the parent company of The Daily Tribune.