Newspaper still the best value

The Central Kentucky News-Journal will celebrate its 100th birthday this year. In almost 10 decades of service, the newspaper has moved from newcomer to welcomed friend. With a close eye on serving our community, the paper has become a healthy business interest and we owe much of it to our faithful readers.

Much has changed in the past 100 years and as we prepare to head into a new year, you will notice one obvious change on the front page of today's issue.

For the third time in our history, the newsstand price is changing. Instead of two quarters, our racks and local vendors will ask for three.

The decision to switch our price to 75 cents was not an easy one. We recognize that every price increase, no matter how small, causes consumers to make a choice.

We take heart in the fact that our readers have been very encouraging about the newspaper's steady progress as a news, information and advertising value. Many of you have remarked about the value that this paper holds for you.

We also would like to note that even with this price change, the News-Journal continues to be the greatest value at newsstands. No magazine comes close.

However, in recognition of the impact of any price change, we feel the need to make it clear that we will redouble our effort to serve Taylor County effectively. We constantly review and strive to improve our service opportunities, whether that be in distribution, advertising or news coverage.

All of you recognize that nothing costs the same as it did in 1990. The CKNJ has absorbed many of the increasing costs of doing business as we're sure your household has also faced. Along the way, our subscription price for home delivery has increased from time to time.

In effect, our most faithful readers were absorbing more of the impact of inflation than our newsstand customers. While we value all readers, this change of the rack price allows the paper to become a greater value for subscribers. At $45 per year to homes in Taylor County, you can get the paper delivered to your mailbox for $33 less than driving out to pick up a copy twice each week.

Let us personally thank you in advance for accepting and understanding the necessity of this price change. No one here is celebrating the need to ask customers for another quarter but we promise to make the CKNJ worth every penny.