This edition marks the thirty-first year of publishing The Wanderer. The first edition, July 24, 1992, was not so different from The Wanderer of today, although in looking through that edition I see many of the businesses that used to advertise are now gone.
I try and maintain a low profile; long editorials are not my thing. Occasionally, though, I do feel the need to reach out to our readers.
Recent years have not been kind to newspapers in general with many on the decline and some just disappearing. While The Wanderer is not immune from this, we are still sailing along and plan to continue for quite some time. Our practice has been to save during the busy season so we can borrow during the lighter months, but recently the lighter months are outnumbering the busy months. Those observant few have probably already noticed fewer pages, even in summer months. This shift in numbers is based on advertisers and, with Covid, box stores, social media and such, more and more businesses are cutting back or even shutting down, which means less advertising.
Many of the folks I meet express a great fondness of The Wanderer and our efforts to keep our communities connected and informed. Thank you for your kind words, this message is for those folks. Our fabulous advertisers fund everything we do. Thank you! And we have tried to maintain our loyalty to them as well. It’s been four years since our rates have gone up. Why? Because, businesses are struggling and that’s just how we do things at The Wanderer.
So consider this message less of a call to arms and more of a gentle reminder, we need your help. We need you to acknowledge the businesses that support The Wanderer, encourage other businesses that don’t advertise to advertise. The Wanderer is the most effective way for local businesses to reach local people, that’s a fact. Social media is drowning our local messages and local businesses. If we don’t work together to change things and really support local businesses, then those businesses will not survive. I know, if I was in your place, I would want to know how I could help, so I want to keep you informed, as always. When you are out in our great communities, please let our advertisers know you saw them in The Wanderer!
Thank you for thirty-one years!
Paul Lopes