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About Us: Why
Newspaper-Info? |
My name is Jim Sutton, and I'm the creator and maintainer of
Newspaper-Info.com. I started the site a few years ago as a way
to let everyone know just how easy it can be to start and
operate a newspaper business of your own.
While this website makes it very clear that success must be
earned (it isn’t guaranteed to anyone), it is also easy to see
that my primary purpose is to encourage people in every area to
seriously consider starting up their own newspaper or other
periodical. And some may wonder why.
I started my first newspaper in Western Montana back in 1995. I
had no previous experience or training in journalism , newspaper
publishing or newspaper ad sales. I had very little equipment.
My only computer was an old IBM compatible PC, a 386SX. My only
printer was a small Okidata laser printer that was able to
emulate 600 dpi (in other words, it was a suped up 300dpi
printer). I had no light tables, no digital cameras, and only
old copies of Aldus PageMaker and Corel Draw.
One thing I did have: desire. I was
determined to produce a good paper that served the area. I
was determined to make the paper clean, attractive, interesting
and informative. I was able to accomplish those
objectives. My paper looked better than any other weekly
in the region. Mine was the only one produced entirely on
computer.
I figured out my pricing for newspaper display ads by adding up
my costs and adding in some room for profit. I then scaled the
pricing according to the size of the ads (less cost per column
inch for larger ads, reduced pricing for ads running more often,
etc.). And the rest I just learned as I went. When I first
walked out the door to go talk people into advertising in my
newspaper, I was scared to death. I was also excited.
I have no high school diploma. I did eventually get a G.E.D.
when my kids were young. I am not especially intelligent, not a
very likable person, not a “lucky” person, not all that good at
business. But I was able to start and operate my small newspaper
successfully in a rural area where there were only a handful of
businesses to support the effort.
My point is this: if I can do it, then just about anyone should
be able to do it.
Things have changed for the good in technology.
Good quality digital cameras are available at low prices.
No need for paste-ups and light tables anymore. Just
produce and send PDF files over the Internet. (My wife and
I had to travel over 40 miles in some interesting Montana
weather each week to reach the printer by deadline.)
Computers, software, everything is more accessible
to everyone these days. All you really need is desire.
If you have that, you can accomplish just about anything.
This website is dedicated to that idea.
Jim |
