Support goes both ways

Many readers of the Mendip Messenger contacted us last week to say how sorry they were to see this highly-regarded little magazine close.
It was a sad day here, too, and we were grateful for their kind words of appreciation for the content of the Messenger, whose most popular items have been transferred to this paper in a new weekly section (see page 31).
Unfortunately, kind words do not pay the bills of a free publication. Advertising does, and there was not enough to cover the Messenger’s considerable printing and distribution costs in a recession.
Paid-for titles like the one you are reading are in a much stronger position than frees, for two main reasons.
One: They are collected from newsagents for a small sum rather than needing the publisher to pay someone to deliver them.
Second: The healthier economics of paid-for titles allows them to spend more on the news coverage which readers want.
These are two of the reasons why the roots of the Mid Somerset Series reach back to 1851 and why it will continue to evolve into the next century.However, I would like to make a point which is too easily forgotten.
Readers often ask community newspapers like ours for support. We are happy to oblige whenever possible with free editorial space to help good causes, but “the local” also appreciates a little help itself.
The more support we get from the community in terms of advertising and newspaper sales, the more we can support the community, which is what we want to do.
Philip Welch