Print’s end is nearing

On May 31 the print edition will discontinue delivery to Jonesboro and Craighead County. I see that there are several other nearby counties that have already had the print edition discontinued. Years ago, starting in about 1980 when I moved to Jacksonville, I noticed that both the Democrat and Gazette tended to consider Arkansas as consisting of only Little Rock, Fayetteville, Hot Springs, and Pine Bluff. Unless there was a disaster or catastrophe, the rest of the state was a forgotten wasteland. Your national and international news coverage was great, but state news covered only the “elite” locations. Do you not realize that Jonesboro/Craighead County is a rapidly growing area?

Walter Hussman will be speaking at the Jonesboro Rotary meeting this week. What’s he going to say? Sorry, folks, but our business model doesn’t fit with delivering our product to your area? Don’t try to sell me on this iPad substitute! Can’t you remember when both the Democrat and Gazette delivered papers all over the state? So, instead of making your product adapt to the market you’re going to quit delivering to declining areas, reducing your subscription and marketing base. Can you not see that the ultimate result is a reduction down to a select few and finally total collapse?

I submitted a letter when the TV guide section reduced its coverage. I submitted a letter when you eliminated Mallard Fillmore. I guess this will be the final letter for me to submit since I have no desire to try to read a multi-page newspaper on an iPad.

I wish you all the best in your eventual new careers. I see no future when “spread the news” becomes “what happened here?”

WILLIAM G. FRANKLIN Jonesboro