Great bonus coverage in the Daily Journal of the mighty News-Journal

When the Daytona Beach News-Journal cut its Daily Journal section for Southeast Volusia readers back to three days a week in March, its editors wrote a note promising added features and bonus coverage. That should not preclude the mighty metro from putting NSB-area stories in the main paper. Of course, the NSB City Commission met Tuesday night to discuss global warming. And indeed, the News-Journal had the gavel to gavel coverage in its Thursday paper. The only problem is it's two days old. The Edgewater City Commission met Monday night to ratify a new contract for 80 of its employees. The News-Journal reported it in its Thursday Daily Journal. That's just three days old. The Oak Hill City Code Enforcement met Monday and that, too, was reported in Thursday's Daily Journal. Hey, just three days old. Such is the sad state of affairs for the News-Journal, on the losing end of bitter litigation that now has it forced to sell the paper after wasting millions on naming rights for a lively arts center for the publisher's daughter -- News-Journal Center -- that is also being shopped around. Word has it that the News-Journal is going to make a better effort to get more of its stories online faster, which would be a good thing for Southeast Volusia residents who are disappointed by the lack of daily coverage that belies the designated news section called the "Daily" Journal. Better yet, should the News-Journal place more stories on its Web site, Southeast Volusia residents could save the 50 cents-a-day subscription and just go online. Of course, they'll have to navigate through several pages to find the news. Oh wait, better buy that Thursday News-Journal after all, because that day's Daily Journal has half a page just for three "Celebrity Cipher" games and three "Wonderword" circle games. Now that's some bonus coverage.