Tamarack River Ghost by Jerry Apps Read Free Book Online Page B

up.”
    “Maybe we need to do more promotion, show up at more farm shows, make sure we get to the state and county fairs,” said Josh.
    “That’s how it once worked, but now our pencil pushers tell me it’s not profitable any more. It costs more to put up and staff an exhibit than it’s worth,” said Bert. “And, as you know, subscriptions don’t pay the bills. Never have. It’s advertising.”
    Josh had never paid much attention to the Farm Country News advertising department. His sense of journalistic ethics had always told him that what he wrote and how he wrote it should never be influenced by who does or does not advertise in the paper.
    “Advertising revenue keeps us afloat,” Bert continued. “And the Internet is killing us. Our want ads have essentially disappeared. Now people cango to the Internet and advertise for nothing. It doesn’t cost them one damn nickel to advertise on Craigslist. I can’t blame people for doing it.”
    Quietly, Josh sat listening to his boss and wondering about the future— his future as a journalist. He had worked at Farm Country News since he graduated from the University of Wisconsin and was now especially pleased to be working out of the paper’s main office and living back in his home county.
    “So, what are you gonna do?” asked Josh, a feeling of dread beginning to roll over him.
    “What I thought we’d never do. We’ll have to close down some bureaus. I’m trying to decide which ones we can keep. Hate to close any. Never laid off anybody before. Fired a few people, but that’s different.”
    “That’s terrible,” said Josh.
    “It’s the worst thing I’ve ever known. It’s not for public consumption yet, but the first to go will be our Springfield, Illinois, bureau. That’s one of the reasons I moved you up here, so you wouldn’t get the wrong idea when I closed the place down.”
    Bert had a sorrowful look on his face. Once more he removed his glasses and looked Josh in the eye.
    “What do you think, Josh? Is there another alternative? I’ve given up on Illinois, and the Indiana bureau isn’t doing very well either, nor is Ohio. Minnesota seems to be doing OK, same for the Iowa bureau.
    Josh, not sure if he should share what he had on his mind, said quietly, “I have one suggestion.”
    “Let’s have it; I need all the ideas I can come by.”
    “Have you thought about us putting out an online edition?”
    Bert’s reaction was like someone setting off a bomb in the office. His face turned beet-red, and he clinched his fists. “It’s the goddamn Internet that’s ruining us—ruining all the newspapers in the country. I would never do that. Never do that.” Bert slumped back in his chair.
    Josh, surprised at the outburst, sat quietly. Josh knew that Bert was the majority stockholder in Farm Country News , so he knew the man had a lot at stake in whatever decision he made.
    “You know what happened to the Milwaukee Sentinel , you’ve heardabout the Capital Times in Madison, and the Rocky Mountain News in Denver—it had published since 1859. And the Tucson Citizen , in the business for 138 years. And the Ann Arbor News in Michigan—around for 174 years. And lots more. Their print editions all gone under. Killed off by the goddamn Internet,” said Bert. He was rubbing both of his hands through his thick gray hair.
    “The last thing I want to do is be taken in by that thing that seems to grab everybody’s attention these days. I thought we would be immune. We’re one of those so-called niche papers. But it’s happening to us, too. Damn Internet is out to get us, like a tiger on the prowl, without one ounce of ethics or concern about accurate news.”
    Josh could think of nothing else to say. He stood up to leave. “I’m sorry,” he said. When he looked at his boss, he could see tears in his eyes, something he had never seen before.
    Natalie quickly put two and two together when she heard Josh’s comment about Dan Burman cutting up