It was not a big surprise that the News Journal closed their offices in New Smyrna Beach, Deland and Palm Coast. Here in New Smyrna, they really didn't appear to have their heart in covering us in New Smyrna to begin with. It probably wasn't much different at their other locations.
One thing I find amusing is that they plan to raise the price of the Newspaper. Does that mean that their coverage of New Smyrna, Deland and Palm Coast was so bad that the paper is worth more without it?
The new monthly rate will be $17.31. They will offer a new E-Edition which will be an on line replica of the News-Journal print editions. The electronic edition will come at no extra cost, but of course you will still have to buy the home-delivery edition.
What they don't tell you is that you don't have to be suckered into this e-edition gimmick. That is because you can go online and type in www.news-journalonline.com. And guess what? It won't cost you anything.
The price of the single Sunday edition will go up to $1.50.
It is suspected that they would like to phase out the paper edition eventually and only have an online newspaper.
As a resident of over fifty years in this area it is hard not to experience a little pleasure at the
News Journal's trials and tribulations. It is hard to escape the idea that they have brought it all on themselves.
The overriding phenomenon is that when you try to do "good things" with other people's money the other people get fed up. Cox evidently figured that the News Journal hierarchy was feathering their own nest with Cox's money. Cox fought back. Maybe the News Journal leadership figured that if they could spend taxpayer money with no consequences they could do the same with Cox's money.
Many people are angry with the News Journal because they have used their influence to promote every tax and spending measure that has ever been proposed plus a few of thier own measures. Their success in getting the public to approve these tax and spending measures has played a big part in keeping Volusia County a little poorer than the surrounding counties.
It never occurred to them that higher taxes hurt the economy.
For example, The News Journal led the fight to raise taxes to build the the Ocean Center which has been bleeding a torrent of tax money ever since.
The News Journal led the effort to pass the ECO program. This is a program that mainly promotes the arts with a little money going to nature trails and other questionable projects. If there is anything Volusia County needs its more art.
They also led the effort to raise taxes to build more school buildings. We are now reaping the "rich rewards" of spending outrageous amounts on the school system. (Would you believe twenty thousand dollars per pupil per year?)
The list of taxes and tax increases successfully promoted in Volusia county by the News Journal is extensive.
We will continue to keep an eye on the events at the News Journal.