I would be willing to pay a reduced rate for an on-line edition of the paper. I say reduced because there would be less variable-costs for the gazzette. (no paper, ink or whatever else goes into the manufacturing and delivery) They could still offer us the same coupons to be printed off on our printers. This would also enable them to effectively track which of their advertisers are most benefitting and show them which other advertizers they may need to work with to help improve their sales. Another consideration, I like using my computer to do alot of things. Watch movies, listen to music, surf etc. I don't even turn my tv on anymore unless it is football season. I have absolutely no desire to get up out of my lazy boy office chair and go outside and grab my paper, especially if it is raining or it is winter time. Another problem with papers is the disposal. Those things stack up over two weeks and take up alot of room in that recycle bin, and you have to deal with storing them till recycle day. No thanks, give me a complete online gazzette and I will gladly pay for it. I do not subscribe to the paper. Never have, never will.

I can't believe there are idiots out there who think they should be able to subscribe to the entire paper online for a reduced rate just because they can't afford it. So are you saying you should get reduced Internet, TV, etc? Give me a break! The Gazette needs to limit the content on the Website and require people to pay if they want everything that comes in the newspaper. To the Gazette, I read both the newspaper and the Website because I like the blogs and updates that are posted after the press run. I think the Website should be limited and everyone should pay the same rate for both the newspaper and Website. If you get the newspaper, you have access to the Website so you wouldn't be missing out on videos, blogs, etc.

Could the Gazette have a bonus payment for the carriers that deliver the best each month? Like we could log in to this website or call a phone number and give our carrier 1 star for rotten or 5 stars for great and each month they would get a bonus if they do an excellent job. Seems like they need some incentive to get that paper to us each day!

I sometimes work out of time during the week, so I dropped the daily sub but get the Gazette on weekends with absolutely no delivery problems.
Now, if I could only get the Jotter folks to quit throwing litter...oops...the Jotter on my driveway every Tuesday I'll be happy.

I found this that pretty much sums up most online news sources. Fortunately, the Gazette isn't this bad. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/zits.a...

gmaof3
I know what you mean by the old computer ways before the www. We have been in the computer business since 1991 so we have seen it all especially how the internet has changed the world. wow, I believe you would call the net the #1 item that has made us humans not be patient at all. And yes the delivery service leaves a lot to be desired. Like yesterday I never got my paper. That is the 5th time in a month. I know in most jobs if you dont do it, you get fired. I guess I can see if the snow is piling up over the paper box and you cant find the road but on a clear day at 80 degrees out, I just dont get it. So yes I enjoy it reading on the net. And the avaiilability of almost any newspaper on the net from anywhere is great too if you want to read from your old home town etc.

gmretirednow... how funny is that??? We're over 30 so we must not know anything about the internet/computers... I was on the old computers with the little floppys and dat.cards and such. The was way before the WWW. was even available to the public. Silly kids...

On topic... I gave up "ink on paper" years ago simply due to crappy unreliable gazette paper delivery. We had one really great kid for a few years but when he quit, I couldn't get 2 days of delivery in a row!!! After thorough frustration with the customer service department, I dropped my subscription. The Gazette then offered me 6 weeks free delivery trying to get me to resubscribe, but they still couldn't get the paper to me regularly...

I enjoy being able to get my local news when I have a few minutes to browse... its a lot less frustrating as well.

nancyb bum
I have that old people thing beat too. My dad is 90 now and very computer literate and reads many newspapers on line. He likes to read from his old home town news etc..

I believe the web reading went up because just like me, many have lousy delivery service and have to read on line or wait 1 or 2 days until the delivery person shows up. Probubly I will just cancel the subs. and read on line. At least it is reliable..

The Gazette is stuck between a rock and a hard place. The Internet is becoming the current and next generation's source for news, and their circulation is declining because of that. Reduced print circulation means reduced print advertising revenues (the closing of GM will probably accelerate that a bit, adding to their woes).
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The Internet offers video and audio, something new for newspapers, which is advantageous, but TV stations are already doing that and their staffs are getting up to speed on printing text online faster than newspaper staffs are getting a grip on multi-media. The Channel 3 web site is a good example of that. Also, the Gazette staff, like that of most medium-sized papers, are trained and experienced only on a single deadline per day. Everything is geared to that hour when the presses have to start printing to make delivery schedules. Radio and TV stations are used to multiple daily deadlines and their medium allows for "we interrupt this story for a late-breaking item", unlike newspapers.
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To further compound the problem, the art of measuring and interpreting web traffic is new and in the minds of most advertisers, highly uncertain. They can't be sure of how much traffic the Gazette web site is really getting. They understand Nielsen ratings, but hits, cookies, and click-throughs are new territory for them.
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Another problem is the reduced cost argument used by many posters here. The Gazette does save on ink, paper and delivery costs, however, reporter and editor costs remain the same and they now have webmaster labor and Internet bandwidth fees to contend with. Also, advertisers are making the same reduced costs arguments. "Here is our ad copy, you should charge us less because you don't use any ink or paper."
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I remember when the Gazette only published Monday through Saturday and we bought a Chicago Tribune to read on Sunday. When the Gazette decided to have a Sunday paper, they didn't offer it as an option, you HAD to take it if you wanted the daily papers. That's one reason why I can't feel too sorry about the predicament the Gazette is in now.
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I wouldn't be surprised to see local newspapers gradually merging as the generation of print reading customers slowly passes away. I imagine the new Janesville Gazette press could be printing the Janesville-Beloit-Rockford Gazette Star News in a couple of decades, before they drop printed newspapers altogether.

Look up "blog" on wikipedia. I know, wiki is often maligned and sometimes rightfully so, but we all need to make our peace with it because it is not going away any time soon. :-)

I would not pay to use this website. It is okay for local news, but not much else.

Sorry, just getting caught up on the blogs here. NannyBeachBum, you have given this "oldtimer" the laugh of the day. Probably have been on a computer and online before you were even born ;-)

I'm in my mid-50's, and live in Toronto, near downtown. I don't own a car here, so I do a lot of bicycling to get places, and I think I'm in pretty good health and shape as well (not senile yet).

When I'm not outdoors or working, I am on the computer and get news from many sources. I rarely even watch TV anymore---so little time, so much to see and do!

But not heading for the rocking chair just yet :-)

Iotashan, many newspaper sites list their comments with the most recent at the the top. Virtually all Gannett papers list them in that order, for example.

While both approaches have pluses and minuses, we believe this listing order works best because it allows visitors to quickly see new posts.

Based on the popularity of our comments, it seems that most visitors either like this approach or have adjusted.

Scott Angus
Editor

@garyprimer: oops, that last comment of mine sounded aggressive, and it wasn't meant to. I'm seriously asking for links to other sites that do it that way.

@garyprimer: Any references to back up that statement? I'm curious, because I haven't seen any comment system which lists comments backwards.

Now that I just wanted to reply to someone else's comment, a threaded comment system would also be a huge improvement.

Entries are commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. It isn't broken, so why fix it?

I love the online gazette and find I only use the e-edition on Wed/Sun to read Sound Off. I would like to able to have an online 'general' area where one could pose questions - such as, why haven't the names of the eight residents on the committee to meet with the potential new city manager been released to the public? I'm betting they will be the usual suspects but would like their names released. Is it the Council who is keeping them private? If so, why? The Sunday editorial was great, posing questions you'd ask if you could! I asked four movers and shakers at a large event on the 4th if they were selected or if they knew who was and not one knew (or admitted) of any resident. Appreciate any feedback anyone has on this.

Paper copies are not an option for me. I was born & raised in Janesville and actually worked for the gazette for a couple of years. Now living in Florida, through GazetteXtra.com I am able to keep up on my home town news. Thanks a bunch and keep up the great work!

I haven't subscribed to a printed edition of any newspaper since 1994. Simply put, printed editions are inconvenient for me.

First my comment, then some basic suggestions:

After living in Janesville for 5 years, I've finally given in to paying attention to what's going on around me. I'm rather impressed with the Gazette's coverage of local news, and plesantly surprised with the adoption of online technologies.

Suggestions:
The comments are listed in reverse chronological order, which means that we all have to scroll to the bottom of the page and read backwards to follow the "conversations" in the comments. Please fix this.

I love that you guys use Twitter, but am disappointed that there is no RSS feed. I don't mean put an entire article in the feed, but at least give me headlines so I can visit the site.

like I said, "my opinion". and if you know any thing about the Gazette you would see the the downward spiral in circulation for the past many years.

quondam said: "I am still trying to figure out why in this age of electronics, computers ect... that Bliss would even consider a multi million doller printing facility when the press runs are getting shorter and shorter all the time! Look at the Milwaukee paper, they are getting rid of 10% of there work force. And now with G.M. leaving and there suppliers closing up there will less and less to print every day. Dont forget the loss of revenue from the big box stores, and the cost of Gas."

The decision to build a new facility was made long before gas rose over 30%, and before GM decided to shut down the factory. Your hindsight vision is a little out of focus.

Age 50 and even 60 is no longer considered old!

Nannybeachbum..........I am 63 and I get all my news frm the internet, you are living in the dark ages if you think people our age don't operate in the same way you do in getting news. We live in remote northern Wisconsin and my home town is Janesville. I still have chldren, grandchildren, parents and friends living there and may still come back there to live some day. I read the GAZETTE online more than once a day. I also go to CNN, MSNBC which is my home page and occasionally to other sites to get news. I followed the news about the GM tragedy and the flood very closely while it was developing. I was astounded, though, with Scott's statistics of over 4M hits. WOW.

It is just another way to manipulate the circulation numbers for the adversisers.

I think that it is a neat trick to get Saturday's news on Friday. Maybe you should hire Rod Serling to run the circulation department. Maybe you should change the name to The Janesville Nostradomumium. Maybe you should send me Tuesday's paper on Monday. I might be able to use that to some advantage. :-)

I read both, as evidenced by the question/suggestion I am about to make. Besides the review you mention here, you said in your print edition that you're also reviewing the status of the Jotter. Honestly, after the acquisition of CSI, I don't know why you would bother continuing to print the Jotter. Like your merging of the Week and CSI in Walworth, it would seem like a no-brainer - financially and otherwise - to merge what's left of the Jotter into the Messenger, not to mention eliminating the Marketplace and using the Sunday Messenger as your TMC product. I know some people are still in love with the Jotter name, so just rename the Messenger.

I also had issues with not receiving my paper on a decent time and always got the usual answer that "the paper was late getting out", or the carrier "is running late. They did offer to get the paper to me and credit my account, but it gets frustrating to have to call the Gazette at least twice a month so I cancelled as well. I enjoy the online version of the Gazette.

I received the Janesville Gazette for many years, but found out with the life style I lead I never read 80% or more of the paper, since it would pile up on me. Also going green was a major point. And to Nannybeachbum, I also am OVER 50 and am on the web several times a day.

I like the new and improved website because it is a way for me to keep in touch with Janesville. I grew up in Janesville and still have family and friends in Janesville. I visit the site daily. I have a family member that no longer subscribes to the daily paper because it was always delivered later (sometimes upto a day) and now only receives it on the weekend and is looking to stop that because of the delivery issues. When I was younger (I am in my thirties) I can remember that Gazette routes were hard to get, now it seems the complete opposite. So, that could also be a reason why people are stopping their subscriptions. But I have also heard negative feedback on the content and format of the Gazette. Personally, I like the web content. I rely on the bigger cities newspapers for more stimulating content.

How much are the various subscriptions?

Well, quondam, I think Mr. Bliss is betting that he knows the newspaper industry better than you do.
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I do think that Ballmer et al. are presumptive. In 1990 everyone was predicting the "paperless office" and instead we're using more paper than ever (partly because it's so easy to print stuff now). Advertising is certainly an area of concern for the newspaper business model but paper has many advantages over electronic distribution (really), and is the single most permanent archival solution for any kind of media. Will it go away entirely? I doubt it. Will newspapers in 2025 look exactly like newspapers today? I doubt it.
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My parents are opposites in some ways. One is constantly connected via e-mail, but never reads the paper anymore; the other prefers reading the print edition, but catches many of the stories online during the day. They're both over 70. Retirees have often been shown to be electronically savvy, because they have the time to play around on the net, and because they have the social need to do so. The least connected demographic group is actually those aged 50-65. They didn't learn, they're too busy working to learn, they don't see the need, etc. But when they do retire they will probably pick it up easily.

Scott,

Thanks for asking for our feedback. Many years ago, I was a daily subscriber to the print version of the Gazette. Due to my busy schedule, I found the paper tended to stack up and go unread. I found that wasteful and ended up changing to a weekend only subscription. Despite enjoying the coupons, features and weekly sales inserts, I still had papers piling up. I was also trying to make more "green" choices in my life, so I ended up cancelling my subscription altogether. I am a frequent on-line reader and really enjoy the instant, green, news on my schedule and wherever I may be access that the website gives me. At this point, I probably would not subscribe to a print version of the paper even if you gave it to me for free! I've noticed the link for the E-Edition and am very interested in it however. The only thing keeping me from choosing that as an option is that it only comes with a subscription to the print edition. I don't know what the future of print media is, but my vote is for continued free on-line acess and expanded on-line content for a fee with no print requirement. Being internet savvy, I even review sales inserts and get coupons on-line too.

I am still trying to figure out why in this age of electronics, computers ect... that Bliss would even consider a multi million doller printing facility when the press runs are getting shorter and shorter all the time! Look at the Milwaukee paper, they are getting rid of 10% of there work force. And now with G.M. leaving and there suppliers closing up there will less and less to print every day. Dont forget the loss of revenue from the big box stores, and the cost of Gas. Soon it will be so cost prohibitive to print a Sunday paper that you could probally farm the Gazette printing out to the Beloit Daily News and have them hand stuff the Sunday paper with temps.

I guess that I am confused as to how Mr. Bliss can justify spending that kind of money on a dying industry.

This is just my opinion and confusion.

"nannybeachbum - You don't know anybody over 50
who "uses e-mail/web on a daily basis"???"

Seriously, NannyBeachBum, are you kidding?

Both my parents, my aunts, uncles, co-workers, friends, and so on, use the internet on a daily basis. Where the heck do you live?

I don't mean to sound bratty, but you make it sound like people of a certain age can't understand the internet. It's easier than you think.

nannybeachbum - You don't know anybody over 50
who "uses e-mail/web on a daily basis"???
What planet are you living on? My brothers, sister, aunts and uncles, some co-workers, and most of my friends, all over 50, most over 60 DO use it on a daily basis. I'm 62, and, believe it or not, us old people are quite computer literate.

What I don't understand is why the Janesville Gazette printed a paper for the 4th of the July (Friday) with Saturdays date on it and two (2) day old news. I went to the Brewer game on Friday which they won 9-1. And read the Saturday 7/5/08 Gazette (published on Friday 7/4/08)with a headline that the Brewers were beaten in the 9th inning, 6-5 which they played on Thursday. What's up?

I think this is a generational issue more than anything else. No one I personally know over the age of 50 uses e-mail/web on a daily basis. For that age group- the print copy is vital. They would be newsless and frustrated without it.
I think the predictions of print going totally tech in the next 15 years or so is a bit early. I think that you are going to have to wait until the people who are 30 now will be "the older generation." So that would put my prediction to 30 years or so. I read both editions, it depends on the news and the day and my schedule. I think it's a funny reality that for most people who do any sort of "work" online... that it's easy for us to check in on the news throughout a work day and make it appear that we are still working, making the e-version much more attractive. lol The only edition I pick up in print regularly is the weekend editions as it's the only time that I have time to sprawl out and enjoy the whole paper for what it is and not feel like I'm wasting a copy. I wouldn't read the website as often if the site wasn't as good, for sure. I too would be interested in seeing a sample of the "e-version"-- which could be a great thing for a person like me to subscribe to.

Not to step on Scott's toes, but currently, the E edition is a free service available only if you subscribe to the printed paper. If you subscribe for seven day delivery, you get seven days of the E edition. If you only subscribe to the weekend papers, you only get the weekend E edition. Get it?

Or, you could simply read this link, which is at the right side bottom of every page.
http://www.gazettextra.com/e-edition/

sorry also what is the price of the e-addition as of now ?

Could you please put a sample of the e-adition avaliable for us to read ..So one can make up their mind if they would like to subscribe to it or not. tyvm

I'll respond to the questions regarding subscriptions to the E edition when I return to the office Monday. Check back.

Scott Angus

We committed before the year started to skip one paper over the July 4 weekend, and we picked July 4. Because of that commitment to the company that monitors newspapers' circulation, we technically couldn't put the July 4 date on the paper delivered Friday. Seems dumb, but that's the way it was. Either way, we had always planned to skip one day, and we made it Saturday. It just worked out best for us and - we thought - our customers. We've never published a July 4 paper.

The practical result of all of this is that we and our customers were going to miss one day regardless. And that's what happened.

Scott Angus
Editor

at least name it fridays paper NOT saturdays!!

try not printing your sat paper on Thursday of this week and you might sell more print.
Ridiculous.

Scott (as well as others),

What are your thoughts on the recent comments made by Steve Ballmer (CEO - Microsoft) and Tom Brokow? They have both made statements predicting the end of all print media in 10-15 years.

I'm almost 30, and I read almost everything online at this point (be it the WSJ, espn the magazine, local/national newspapers, etc.). I can only imagine how little time people younger than me spend with actual newspapers. Once we all have portable "media devices" (think cell phones, but for reading) I can't imagine why print would stick around - especially once it starts losing all its advertisers.

People have come to expect news when they want it and however they want it, just like everything else - mall shopping, health care, groceries, etc. Ward doesn't come home at 5 o'clock anymore to sit down and read the paper while June prepares dinner for him and the boys. Online news is more current and certainly more convenient. I have come to enjoy reading the Gazette online and often check it once or twice a day. I would be willing to pay more for full online service. I do receive the paper on weekends. I guess it's that old fashioned part of me that likes to sit down with a cup of coffee on a weekend morning and leisurely go through the paper.

I recently moved from Janesville and can no longer subscribe to the Gazette. I asked about subscribing to the e-version and was told I couldn't do so without subscribing to the paper itself. I can not subscribe to the paper because I live 1800 miles away. Why not offer subscriptions to the e-version to those of us that would like to read the Gazette but no longer live in the area. I would like to see the entire paper and not just bits and pieces.

It’s seems logical that people would stop paying for a print newspaper when they can get the Web version for free--this is a lie. you can not get the full paper on line unless you are subscribed to it! if u r only subscribed to the weekend print edition you can not get the full paper on line during the week. and if u subscribe to the weekly edition u can not get the weekend edition on line

ima fan:)

I'm an online junkie and hit the site several times in a 24-hour period. I once subscribed to the daily paper but let the subscription run out after having too many issues swiped by others in my apartment building. Off-subject, I would like to thank the Gazette for expanding its coverage on Beloit.

I would pay for a web edition, but not 1/2 price of normal subscription. That is what the 'sale' price is of the regular paper.
Make the price low enough to allow for many to subscribe. You don't get as much per person, but think of all of the people that used to live in the area but left and now would like to simply keep up with what is going on. If the price is low enough (a few dollars a month for a full subscription), they would likely bite.
Figure out what you need to replace the business lost on the print side and then go after it. I live in Beloit, but would gladly subscribe to the better, more complete, paper in the area.
Magic1

Timely topic...we just started 7 day service about 3 weeks ago after many years of Sunday only. Of course, it was at a healthy reduced rate. Frankly, I'm not certain I would pay full price for 7 day service. I'll assume Sunday is your biggest circ day due to ads. Our society is geared toward discounts...and your paper supports it with ads. I would NEVER pay full price for a paper at a store for that reason. Never pay retail. So, why did I subscribe other than the discount? I like the web but there's something about newsprint. There are so many things you miss on the web that you pick up in print. Just my 2 cents.

I haven't lived in Janesville for at 35 years now, and I presently live in another country. This makes it difficult to subscribe to the Gazette print version.

I like the online version, as it allows me to see news about Janesville. It has been especially useful during all the storms and flooding, because I still have family and friends who live in Janesville.

I appreciate being able to get news about Janesville online, and I hope the GazetteXtra will be available for a long time to come.

I check into the site 3 or 4 times a day.
I would subscribe to a complete e-paper as well.

Gazette reader for nearly 45 years now living out of town...I read the online version every day! Keep up the good work!

I subscribe to the weekend papers only. The Sunday coupons can offset a portion of that cost for us. I've never subscribed to the weekly paper, mostly because I get my news on-line, and before you switched to a local focus, the paper couldn't compete with the on-line news sources. I also don't like the seemingly wasteful nature of a daily paper that I would read once and throw away (recycle).

Had the Gazette not switched to a more local focus, I'm not sure that the web site would have been as popular. Two things keep me coming back to the web site: The local news, which seems to be updated frequently, and the reader comments. I will read a story once, but the comments result in multiple pages hits.

Electronic media is the future. Some day, your web ad revenue may have to subsidise the printed paper. I don't think your market is large enough for a pay web site, but I'm not the expert. My advice? Hire an expert, and keep the on-line comments moderated.

Mr. Angus: Is there an option of paying for the e-edition now? I think that would be a wise concept to beta test!

I'd pay for a subscription if I could afford one so I read the free online version and catch a paper edition when I can. The Gazette could stand to offer a sliding scale for the subscriptions since some people are on a fixed income or are low income households.

Scott,
I subscribe to the print version and use the net too. Keep the services as they are now and keep up the good work!

I'd subscribe to a full online, non-print version of the Gazette.

I read the online version more now. I canceled the paper after 30 years. When you changed the design you lost me. I would probably pay for the full paper online depending on the price. If you cut back on the content online there is always other places to find it

Living on a fixed income, I find that we can't afford the paper anymore. Sign of the times I guess. I very much appreciate the online edition because all the the news in the last month has affected my family in one way or another. I really enjoy reading all the comments from everybody to get different thoughts about things. I also like to sign in a few times each day to get the updates. I really enjoy the fact that I can read what I have time for and don't have all the paper around the house. Plus I can catch up online when I get the chance. I hope the free edition can be sustained somehow.

as someone who lives out in the country and has a long driveway 1/2 the time the paper wasn't in the box it was wet, I requested that it be brought up to the door and it happened a few times (keep in mind they can drive up) then it stopped and so did my hard copy of the paper. I enjoy reading online it updates quick. I am not sure i would pay for the whole paper online but keep up the good work.

Here's my 2 cents worth. I love to read the Gazette, At work, I was always going thru the recycle bins and looking for section A and B, (now they are combined in A)the rest...eh didn't really care. I don't subscribe for 2 reasons, well, 3 actually. 1.) as a single parent, it is a luxury that I really can't spare the money on. 2.) same reason I don't subscribe to charter, they have channels I don't watch, but they want me to pay for, the Gazette has sections I don't read. and 3.) My Mom gets the print edition and any article she thinks I might be interested in, she saves for me. I tried a trial membership once, and I admit after a long day of work, I looked forward to the easy chair and the paper. But after too many wet or missing papers, I decided it wasn't for me. I love the on-line version, rain or shine it's right there where I expect it to be. And the updates are great. I find myself logging in several times a day just to see those. And just as my Mom keeps articles for me from the print edition, I am always sharing with her things from the on-line I know she doesn't get. The only thing I really miss is the sound off. Just like the blogs here, I love to read peoples reactions, and comments, wether they be funny, enlightening, or even in some cases, just plain stupid. Years ago, people said they just wanted the Sunday edition, and the Gazette made it possible. If I were given the choice to just subscribe to section A, then I might consider trying it again. If you make the on-line a pay per view, then depending on the price, I might have to go back to digging thru recycling bins, or my Mom's leftovers, and neither her or I would get to have our daily discussions about the blogs.

Limiting certain content to only print editions, hoping it will push some online users to also buy the print edition, shows a lack of understanding of how the online user thinks. Your best bet would be, to place everything online that is available to print users and let the comments roll. Once web page views are high, start charging more for online advertising. You need to work the best of both sides to make it come out a winning proposition. Limiting either side is a poor choice.

I have to confess that I do not read the print edition very often now that the web site has taken off. We are very much into computers here and have three state of the art systems that I built myself networked on a digital subscriber line, so we may not be the typical household and it is no coincidence that my older son recently graduated from UW Madison with a degree in computer sciences and is currently employed by a tech firm in Madison. However, my wife still reads the print edition, so we have no plans to drop it if that option is offered.

I too would love to get the full Gazette online for a small price. I hate all of the waste of the paper and I love to blog about what is going on as the news is happening. I appreciate the free version so please don't get rid of that for those who cannot afford the paper at all, but do include the availability to get a online version for a small fee. As someone said before how about half price. That way you save money on ink and save trees too, but yet have many more subscriptions to the paper.

I agree with raystone, I'd be willing to pay for online service if I receive everything I would with print for a cheaper price of course since we're not using ink, paper, etc. Currently I only subscribe to Sunday papers (will always due that for sales papers, etc) but the rest of the info I get online.

wow what a huge milestone for the Gazette, I do subscribe to the gazette but also read the online version daily. You don't get blogs in the print edition, also u ccan get updates rather quickly after you've got to print.

I would pay 50% of the print subscription rate to have access to all print content online

I think that the company (Bliss) has to look at the paper, web, radio and whatever other devices are being used to deliver information as one, rather than unique individualized businesses. The community will follow and expect certain results from each, while knowing that to get total information all sources have to be considered. Thank you Mr. Angus for an excellent local newspaper and web site.

Dear Editor, Thank you for gazetteextra.com! As former, longtime residents of Janesville, our family is most grateful for being able to view our hometown paper online from another community. The website keeps us connected to the Janesville we still love and continue to monitor. Our prayers and thoughts in recent weeks have been very much focused on the flood waters and the sad news of GM's departure. If we were in town, we'd support local delivery of the paper! But, thank-you for the website, we very much appreciate it! I'm not sure it would be a good idea for Janesville to subscribe to a 'membership fee' on line at this time. With the economy doing so poorly, you may lose viewer/reader support altogether. Times are tough for Janesville.

The days of getting the paper in the morning or before work in the afternoon are changing. As the country continues to lean away from manufacturing more workers have access to computers. In addition, the use of computers will continue to grow with each passing year. As a result, more people will have access to news from all over the world at their finger tips. Consequently, the Gazette must stay on top of this trend by continuing to expand its online presence. Moreover, the Gazette will eventually need to make some of its E-Edition available to mobile users (those with Blackberry and IPhone) as more wireless technology becomes advanced. The lower cost of printing and distributing the news could potentially offset the cost associated with lost paper sales. Furthermore, heavy push towards revenue generated from ad banners could help offset the lost profit from print. The key is offer exclusive content via a small monthly membership fee. This content could include exclusive stories, discounts coupons to local restaurants, and interactive chat sessions with local and state representatives and even possibly local celebrities. The installation of the proper information systems could collect data and help the Gazette staff make decisions on what content is successful. Eventually, charity events could be held online and also local auctions. Moreover, the Gazette could eventually have its own virtual community of local residents. Local videos, pictures, and information could be posted by people right from our community. The goal would be to allow locals to have quick access to local born information, people, and events rather than having to sift endlessly through Google, Youtube, or other virtual outlets. The online possibilities are endless. Granted, many of these ideas may not work or may not come to fruition. However, the online staff must continuously be thinking of ways to expand the online content. This is not to say print is going away altogether nor should it be abandoned. It is simply recognizing the future and being a part of it rather than playing catch up, which would be a great deal more expensive.