A look to the future

On December 3, 2000 The River Reporter will have been in existence for 25 years. This feat gives me satisfaction and delight, as I have been a part of the paper's effort for 22 years.

The paper began as the brainchild of Thomas DeGaetani, the first managing director of Lincoln Center, a high-powered arts consultant who, after having a heart attack at the age of 49, moved to his A-frame along the river. The River Reporter was started as a vehicle to promote area economic development through the development of arts and culture, and through the environmental preservation. It had a circulation of 200 and took no advertising.

And look at us now. We run an average of 34 pages a week and provide a forum for upwards to 100 businesses to showcase their wares and services.

The River Reporter staff takes pride in the paper's lofty beginnings. We feel we have been successful in growing the content and pages of The River Reporter. Our mission, which we fulfill every week, is to provide readers with a thought-provoking newspaper that contains good writing, photography and accurate reporting, with a focus on literature, the arts, the environment and personal health.

Our web site has been praised for its innovative layout and outstanding local content.

But in these days of corporate upsizing and merger, it is not always easy for the small independent weeklies to thrive.

The industry is struggling with mega retailers who don't advertise and corporately owned dailies that are aggressively pursuing the weekly market. The smaller papers experience difficulties when competing with those same corporations in providing salaries and benefits commensurate with employee abilities. Every area newspaper, including The River Reporter, is seeking sales help. Throughout the industry, key positions remain unfilled.

Nevertheless, on its 25th anniversary, The River Reporter is expanding. We are positioning ourselves as an information resource to provide more editorial and design services for the economic development projects in the area. We are moving out of our funky rented storefront on Narrowsburg's Main Street to the former Delaware Publications building on Erie Avenue in Narrowsburg. With the help of a Main Street Redevelopment loan, we will renovate the building with new wiring and replacement windows and purchase a new computer and phone system. It is our goal to build a technically superior plant, positioned for the newspaper organization of tomorrow.

But, the redevelopment money barely covers the technical aspects of the project. To that end, we are putting together contractors who are willing to give up a Saturday at a Community Contractors Day on November 11 or 18 to replace windows, build a bathroom, furnace room and kitchenette. It will be a day of construction, cooperation and good food.

And The River Reporter turns to its readers. We need your help. We need your support. We need your subscriptions. We need your advertising space commitments. We need physical help as we prepare our new home and move our operation.

We face our anniversary with an experienced step and a brave heart. We have always been blessed with dedicated staff and readers. Help us ensure the future of The River Reporter and the continuance of a positive and creative community voice.

If you have any ideas or extra time and think you can help, give me a call today.

Laurie Stuart, Editor