Thanks to our Readers…

While newspapers are constantly reporting on many topics, one of the topics they don’t cover very well is themselves.
First, we want to put out a sincere “Thanks” to many complimentary notes, comments and letters we have received about both the look of our paper and the coverage we have provided.
While the newspaper industry is being challenged, small market newspapers have largely escaped the factors which have brought upon large metro market declines.
Here in Choctaw County, we are delighted to be able to report that the Hugo Daily News set an all-time record for pages published in each of the first four months of 2009.
The increase has hovered around 20 percent, which, in the newspaper business is outstanding.
We have not adequately explained to our readers and advertisers that it is “your support” that substantially drives our product, in more ways than you might realize.
As an example, the size of each day’s paper is determined primarily by how much advertising has been ordered for that specific edition.
When local, regional, or national advertisers purchase advertising, it gives us additional space to provide more news or photos.
Recently, our newspaper has been selected by national advertisers, who recognize the benefits of running more color in their advertisements, and that has made it possible for us to splash more color onto our front page.
While there are other forms of advertising, none of them make it possible for us to provide our readers with more news about local youth, community groups and organizations.
The expanded newspaper product also gives our readers more bang for their buck, which has generated more readers than ever.
We appreciate the support and kind words more than you know.

Stress for Christian Groups

While mainstream Democrats have taken up the mantra of “Give this President a chance,” Christian groups are wailing.
The first round of bailout or TARP money specifically excluded giving government money to universities that permitted faith-based teachings, activities or discussions.
Now, according to The Traditional Values Coalition, the largest non-denominational grassroots Church lobby in America, the U.S. House of Representatives just passed H.R. 1913, which is aimed at giving substantial freedoms to the Gay-Lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender community.
The bill focused on ‘gender identity’ and went so far as to not exclude “pedophilia.”
The GLBT lobby fought and won an attempt from Christian groups to change the language so as to exclude pedophilia, but without success. This left the GLBT lobby a bit red faced, but not enough to change the legislation.
Eighteen Republicans voted for the bill, and 17 Democrats voted against it, including our own Congressman, Dan Boren.
If you want to better understand this bill, you may do so at: http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=3633
Congressman Boren got beat up pretty good by many of his Oklahoma constituents for voting for the Obama bailout plan, and as far I am concerned, justifiably so.
This, however is a time to congratulate him for supporting the Christian position.
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