No1shouldHate, my speculations about the mergers were just that, speculation. What might newspapers such as the Gazette do to maintain print editions as long as possible. The print market might collapse faster than the Gazette can react.

I wasn't "blaming" the younger generations, nor do I mean to infer no older people are not impatient as well. I would say they are less impatient, in general, than younger people - if only by experience, not desire.

I'm not lamenting all change, I'm just realizing how much more it impacts older people, now that I'm one of them.

I've been reading these comments and I have to say that my Grandmother read the Gazette every day of my life, and since I've moved away I find that the extra keeps me somewhat still connected to my hometown. I would be interested also in an online subscription. As far as fair reporting, FOX news and MSNBC are the absolute worst sources for real news out there. Try the BBC for news not allowed in America. Like what's REALLY happening in Afghanistan and how we really shouldn't be there in the first place. You may call me a left-winged whatever, but I listen carefully to stories, then consider the source of the news and re-investigate as to how it affects our global neighbors, not just those down the street. I highly recommend watching the Zeitgeist movie. It can only be found on-line as it had no advertising budget and no hidden agenda, other than the truth. The government of the US has manipulated its people for fifty years plus for the profit of a select few with no loyalty to anyone but their own pocketbook.

Huh, sounds like 4animals has an axe to grind. I've read many stories on people I know and it was nothing but fair and professional. You're probably one of those conspiracy theory nutcases from Darien. Perhaps you should become a journalist...

If the gazette would report fairly and with good journalism maybe more people would support it. Articles are one sided and definitely not professional!

janesvillecomments - You're obviously a pretty smart guy, but where do you come up with this stuff? Speaking of fictitious mergers, basically blaming the younger generation for the failure of print media. FYI - they aren't the only ones without patience, ever been to Woodman's on Saturday? Do you watch CNN, MSNBC or Fox News? They all have breaking news updates. If you haven't noticed we're no long in the Pony Express days. While there might be an overall decline in newspaper distribution, it was my understanding that Bliss Communications actually is printing more with their new print facility. Print media will never be gone, it will just be different. Times change, the way we communicate change, it's just the way world works.

I find it funny that people will spend $7.25 for a pack of cigarettes, $2.35 for a latte, and $2.75 for a can of beer, $1.99 for a ring tone, but not .75 cents for a newspaper per day. I guess if you want to rationalize anything, you can say you can't afford it. Is it hypocrisy to say that you won't "buy" the Gazette because it is a right wing rag, but then read it for free online? Very fitting because the left is always wanting something for free and not paying for it.

I subscribe to the printed Gazette (something to read while sitting in the reading room in the morning), but I think the print edition will fade away as older readers (I'm including myself in that category) fade away. I got into the computer and modem world back in the late 80's and landed a tech support job in 1995. I couldn't understand why the Gazette was so far behind The Beloit Daily News in getting a presence on the web for so long.

I don't believe the generations following mine will sustain a print newspaper market. The advantages of the new technology will soon outweigh the disadvantages compared to print. With the majority of tomorrow's readers using computers, PDAs, and reading tablets far better than Amazon.com's current Kindle, there won't be enough subscribers to sustain printing costs. I imagine at some point The Gazette will merge with or take over Beloit Daily News for a joint printed version and possibly later, The Rockford Morning Star or the Wisconsin State Journal. At some point the distances between remaining print customers will either drive up home delivery costs too high or the low customer numbers for the printed versions of papers will no longer interest advertisers to cover the printing costs.

To survive, the newspaper industry is going to have to come up with acceptable readership metrics to convince advertisers to spend serious money on their web site ads.

With this economy, The Gazette and other papers are probably taking a higher subscription loss than normal. The annual subscription rate for the paper will cover 4 months of high speed Internet access. Choosing between cable/satellite tv and Internet access might be tough for some people, but choosing between Internet access, cable/satellite tv, and the newspaper is a no-brainer for most people.

Other major reasons for the decline of printed newspapers are the lag time (younger generations don't have the patience to wait for the newspaper tomorrow) and the space restrictions. I used to write a Letter to the Editor and trying to make several important points in 250 words sometimes forced me to be less eloquent than I wished. I have to wait days to see if my letter will be printed (while the issue may be forgotten by a lot of readers) and if The Gazette prints my letter I have to wait 30 days before they will print another. That format doesn't doesn't do much for lively debate.

It's fine for newspapers to say they have a robust future. I imagine the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company once said that about passenger rail service. At one time they had over 12,000 miles of track in seven mid-west states and provided passenger rail service in Janesville. Interstate Highways and airlines put nearly all passenger rail service out of business. I'm afraid print newspapers will be novelties by the time I've racked up my threescore and ten.

...Maybe I should buy the print edition. I'm a rebublican and I've always found the articles leaning the other way.

I have to agree it's the convenience of electronics that keep me from buying the print copy. I haven't bought a print copy since it cost fifty cents. It seemed that as the price went up, the paper got thinner. I would consider, but probably decline to purchase an electronic version only. So many other local media outlets are providing the news for free and faster. My only consideration would be for the "local only" information. Then again, I don't consider Delavan or Elkhorn local. Local to me is Janesville, Milton, Edgerton, Beloit, Footville, Orfordville, and maybe Evansville.
Yep, sounds like I'll be reading the free online version as long as you provide it to me. So, you need to start selling some web page ads to continue this service. :)

I find myself only looking in the paper to see who has done something wrong., sad I know but I could really care less about what is happening with G.M and how hunters are pissed off at the dnr, most of what is in the gazette is not news worthy I guess I will just watch the news on T.V

The Sunday coupons will more than pay for the weekend print additions. It's a good compromise in lieu of getting a daily paper.

Interesting comments about the Gazette and Messenger being biased to the right. Didn't Fox News teach everyone that the LEFT controls the media?

I don't really feel a right leaning bias from the Gazette. On line, they post opinion pieces from both sides, and the Gazette editorials don't seem to focus on politics very often, but mostly local issues. The Messenger is a different story. Every editorial is a right wing talking point.

Why get the printed one and read it online? I get just as much, if not more info on here. Like some have said, you get the jist of the article anyways and the posts are more informing and sometimes amusing. My hubby likes the print becuz he not a computer user, but I like this. Even if they offered the whole edition for a price on here, I would not subscribe. Most stuff you can get on here, except the comics! And I also agree they are biased as to Republicans. Becuz they (Bliss's) are wealthy. JMO

I don't subscribe, never will. When I get the Messenger I use to start my fireplace. To me they are a prime example of what is wrong with media today. Others have mentioned it and I totally agree, the are a Republican news outlet.

Greg Peck stated, "But we do believe our opinions can influence local and state decisions." Sorry, but that is not their job. Their job is to report all sides of a story and let the people make up their own minds. They spin too many stories for my liking.

I know of one individual that wrote a letter to the editor and they told him they would not print it because it accused people of saying something they couldn't verify. That information came from their own article! It was both online and in print. The next day that story was removed from being online. When he showed them their own article, then they printed it.

I was in a class recently where we had a DNR individual speaking to us. When she was speaking she said, "Nobody reads the Gazette anyway, right?" They have a reputation not only here but in the whole state for being biased.

It's "rationale." And also "News reported AFFECTS your employees, parishioners, organization supporters, etc."

Gazette owns the Messenger. I found this out when they cannot seem to get a Messenger to me either. I dont have to call them as often.

Beeferer- It is weird it has been many weeks in a row for me as well. KNOCK on paper!

I read almost anything I can get my hands on, except for the toilet paper. I recently gave up my subscription because I tired of the right leaning political perspective. I noticed the same is true for the Messenger. I would give it up too if it were not free already. Then it occurred to me one day, while sitting in the throne room, that you could print your news on toilet paper and solve your circulation dilemma. If you printed it this way and people disliked editorials and opinions they could easily dispose of them in an environmentally sound fashion. The next time you hear a Woosh! it's just another opinion going down the drain!

(continued) Our budget is tight, so this 'justifies' our internet ISP cost.

I keep up to date with current news by watching TV and reading on-line news only - Janesville Gazette, Milton Courier, Beloit Daily News, Wisconsin State Journal, and a few others.

It seems that Bliss is committed to print editions since they recently built a new print shop. But that gives them a huge problem. They are fighting a national trend. Print media all over the country are going bankrupt and it's not just poor content that disinterests subscribers. Like Sannio seemed to imply, there are lots of disadvantages to printed papers compared to online editions. For instance, online text is easy to scan for interesting headlines and advertisements of interest, is searchable with a few keystrokes, and has an archive where old stories can be easily accessed. And you never get ink on you fingers! With printed papers, you have to leaf through every page and if your copy happens to be missing one or two pages you're out of luck. After you're done with them, you can only line your bird cage so many times, and unless you're training a puppy too, printed papers then leave you with a disposal problem. I don't know why Bliss thought that expanding print capacity now was a good idea. But refusing to read the writing on the wall is just another bad decision. They should stop being stubborn and make the E-Edition available by subscription to all, not just print subscribers. Their effort to generate more print subscriptions by restricting access to the E-Edition is needlessly costing them revenue.

How refreshing it is to know that I am not the only one with problems getting the Marketplace. I have to contact the Gazette usually once a month about delivery problems. I have lived here for over 30 years and have never subscribed. I have told the circulation department that if they can deliver the Marketplace for 3 months in a row, I would subscribe. This year, for the first time since living here, I got the Marketplace delivered 5 weeks in a row- a brand new record!!!

I subscribe to the Gazette, but I am conflicted on whether I continue to do so. There are a couple of reasons. First, if it is a "local matters" newspaper, I resent paying for opinions on local matters that differ from mine. Second, my politics are different from the Gazette's editorial Board. I feel like I am making a contribution to the Republican party each time I renew a subscription.

Macgruff - CIM's comment was 2 parts, and so was mine.

I only read the Gazette online. If that goes away I wouldn't start buying a paper. I'm already having too much fun fishing the Marketplace, and other Bliss Communication papers out of the wet, slushy gutter.

I do online only. Cannot afford print. Sorry in today's times cant afford it. Couldn't justify it before. Have to watch all the money now. I feel I get enough news from the online edition. My parents get print and in-laws get print. I have never gotten print unless they drop a freebee once in awhile. I have a hard time getting my free marketplace EVERY week so I find it hard to pay for one and wonder WILL it come? I will get Market place once and then not for 2-3 weeks and call to complain. Then cycle goes on over and over again. Over and over for the past couple years. They said why don't you buy the Gazette. I said will I get it??

If they charged a decent rate for the whole paper online I may concider it but I still feel I may get enough info from the free paper online. Yes I do know if you get Sunday only you can get online.

cim- they said not many kids delivered anymore.

Wow PBR, that's both a generalized and ignorant statement you made.

What does getting up at 6:00am to work have anything to do with obesity?
My 13 year old and I go for a run every day around 7pm. He gets up at 6:30am to get ready for school to be at the bus stop at 7:30am We're both not obese. We live in the city of Greendale.

Both. I buy a paper at the newstand when there is content that I want to save, which is usually once a week. I don't need to kill a tree every day.

CIM - no wonder obesity is an epidemic...and you know city kids, they can't get up and do any work before 6:00am....only the country kids can.

Given some of the technology coming out, I think the print media has the same opportunity that the movie/music industry has chosen to drag its heels on.

I could definitely see an opportunity for the print media to subsidize devices like the Amazon Kindle DX (http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Re...) to subscribers and deliver their content that method. Sure the initial cost for purchasing and supporting the device might be high, but I think over-all, you'll find yourself keeping your print business alive and well in the coming decade.

Heck, take the example of subsidizing the DX, you could let the subscriber know that much like the multitude of uses that our paper had when it was on print, you can use our Kindle DX to download books/articles as well with only one device! Could even work out a deal with Amazon providing a discount or something to subscribers. The possibilities are vast.

If the Gazette came to me and said, "For $150 and a 1 year/$15.00 per mo contract, we'll give you this Kindle DX to send you our paper." I'd sign up immediately.

I gave up on the paper version of the Gazette when they went away from bringing the paper up to the porch. And the switch the to mornings (thus taking most of the jobs away fro the neighborhood kids) didn't help either.

Paper is a renewable resource that is also recyclable. Isn't the jobs the Gazette creates important? You can have both.

a little, because obviously technology can provide something your paper cannot, a forum to discuss topics, and by your postings you are proving my point all the more as to the lack of need for a paper copy of the news. It will also save natural resources, isn't that important?

Macdaddy - I also have a BlackBerry 8330 and get "updates" on everything from my Fantasy stats to Facebook via my 3 email and Twitter accounts. I am typing this comment on a 802.11g wireless network laptop. I can create a killer PPS with audio and visuals like nobody's business. I still have not found anything satifying as reading the hard copy paper. Is my head still buried?

PBR: you are a dying demographic, many people like me (those in their 20's) get updates on their phones and can read anything they like to on their blackberry's.

Also on your comment, i do after dinner sit down in my big chair, turn my lamp on and open my laptop to read the news from New York, Madison and Janesville. And guess what there is no waste of paper when i am done reading as well there is no mess on my hands (always hated that when i delivered papers).

It's the future, either embrace it or bury your head.

Just realize that people reading a physical paper is a huge problem because why would advertisers spend money if no one is reading it, and without advertisers the cost will go through the roof which will mean less readership and the circle continues.

My generation wants nothing to do with a physical paper IT IS OLD NEWS! and that is a problem for advertisers. And ultimately a HUGE problem for the Gazette.

I agree with some of the comments. I don't get the printed paper because... frankly I have a busy house with no room for anymore paper. I would like to see a price breakdown for people who want the E-edition, without the print edition. I WOULD buy that if it were reasonable. Plus I would give my poor recycling guys a break.

You just can't beat sitting down in your big chair after dinner, turning on the lamp and reading the printed newspaper with your feet up. Even if it is delivered early in the morning. You can't duplicate that with electronics.....

I receive the Sunday paper only. I generally peruse the main segments of the paper and sift through the pile of ads. During the week, I generally read the online articles and read the discussion boards attached to the articles. Truthfully, I read the discussion boards more than the actual article itself - seems kind of sad doesn't it? I refuse to become than a Sunday subscriber to the Gazette because I feel that the Gazette and its parent company are too biased. While many of the articles are not biased, but the political content is plenty biased.

Printed media is going away. By the time news is gathered, printed, then delivered - it's old news. Technology allows the masses to get their news instantaneously from a variety of sources, and the paper ins't an efficient way to do so.

Both. Just depends upon the day I opt to do either.

PS... I have used the print edition for over 40 years, over 20 as a subscriber. Good bye :(

I have purchased, and still do, the print edition. I had intentionally continued recently, to find whether I still found value in the print reference. I have not opened or read any of the print edition in the last year and-a-half. I feel I have proven to myself that there is no value at all. It goes from the mail box, to the kitchen table, to a pile on the floor daily, to the recycling bin monthly. I also have rarely used the online e-edition. I will not be renewing my print subscription. If the online content design or pricing changes, to my disliking in the future, I may reduce or eliminate it as well. So long as it remains similar, the current free content satisfies my needs, other than the loss of the e-edition I will reluctantly live without (I can't justify the cost). Should the Gazette charge for all access, I guess I'll have to find my news somewhere else on the internet. Ultimately, if the Gazette can provide an e-edition, at a more justified cost to me, I may pick that up.
Right now the gazette does not offer e-edition for those that do not receive the print edition. I believe they should seriously consider it, as they may experience similar subscriber response in the future. Only the Gazette knows its customer trends. They might also consider the inevitable commercial advertisers and "circulation" those customers feel justify advertising dollars. The consumer trends and sources they use, for news and advertising, are changing. Can the Gazette continue a printed product which may not be used effectively in the marketplace? I already list my classified advertising in other cyber products, where I am convinced (which is what matters) is where others will find it, and the cost is free or a lot less. In all the time I have used the GazetteXtra, I have never used the classified area. Craigslist and Ebay have already become the standard, with many others like Amazon and direct store web sites that compete strongly.
I actually hope the Gazette can find its place in the market, for the future. But it will need to find a way different than how it does business now. If it does not, I expect the Gazette will cease to exist, either voluntarily or bankruptcy. Hopefully a successful business plan will save it.

I only read the online edition. The big reason is the cost. We just can't do it. This summer I picked up the neighbors paper for her while she was out of town and I tried to read it and get interested in it. Which brings me to the second reason we don't get the print. I just don't have the time and I find it piling up for days at a time before it gets read. To buy a newspaper, not read it, then throw it away is just to costly. Taking me back to reason one LOL

Like you, Steve, I grew up with reading the paper. Even before school, I'd get up early and read it with Dad as we ate breakfast.

Now, when I go to my parents' house, it's Dad and I that talk about the happenings reported in the Northwest Herald. We don't always agree with the paper. In fact, there are some things we don't see eye-to-eye on either.

If there were not a local paper, I probably would not read anything. The papers in larger cities, or even other cities period, don't have as much relevant information.