When I first read about the changes in The Durango Herald publishing schedule, I accepted the fact that I was paying for seven editions and only receiving four.
I am aware of the difficulty that many newspapers are facing with the availability of TV news channels and the internet. I assumed that with only four editions and paying for seven that the four would be enhanced editions to compensate for the increased cost. Especially in regards to the sports section: I was expecting a shift away from the over-coverage of local sports to an enhanced national sports coverage.
Instead, there has been a significant reduction in the national sports coverage – and elimination of the page providing the scores and standings of Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association and National Hockey League among others.
Surely, you are aware that Durango has many transplanted sports fans from all across the U.S.? I expect they may number far more than the alumni of the local high schools.
I will miss reading the Tuesday and Thursday editions while I have my morning coffee as has been my habit, but if I have to go to the internet to see how my favorite baseball team did yesterday, instead of seeing the score in the paper, I might as well get all of the news from other sources.
I believe that I am not alone with this thinking, and while you might think that you can survive as a local paper aimed at local alumni, I believe that you are wrong.
I believe that most of your readers would be more interested in how their previous home team did than how the local lacrosse team did.
If some changes are not made, I will not renew, and The Durango Herald, I believe, could be history – and I will miss it. Seriously.
John Montle
Durango
