The Rapid City Journal (Lee Enterprises) gave notice it was closing their Belle Fourche newspaper in 2017.
It was my feeling that a thriving community needed it’s local newspaper. Knowledge of events in the community; its business & citizens.
My first job in life was that of a “printer’s devil” as a 5th grader in Platte, SD at the Platte Enterprise.
The technology of that first generation of newspaper printing has certainly changed. I’m no longer ink from elbow to elbow.
However, what I learned in the 60’s that remains true to this day, is the importance of local news coverage. Everyone likes to see their children, grandchildren, and relatives picture and information in the paper, unless it’s for the wrong reason, then everyone else likes to read it.
The internet has moved our community and the world toward immediate electronic knowledge of all that’s happening everywhere around the world, which is great, but the newspaper still has a role to play.
This issue of the Beacon marks seven years of continuous publication that may be coming to an end.
Our path the past seven years has been an enjoyable, although not always a profitable venture.
Three things make up the income of a paper: Ad sales, subscriptions, and “Legal” publications.
July 1st the Beacon will have met the threshold and is eligible to be the “legal” newspaper for the County, City, and Schools.
However, the lack of resources to continue may prohibit the Beacon from getting there.
Since starting the Beacon in June of 2018 it has operated at approximately a loss of $20,000 per year.
We have reached the point where we are no longer able to personally contribute to the financial needs of its publication and fall just short of taking advantage of the “legal” status that provides the third leg of the income needs and a newspaper profit.
Our short term situation requires approximately $10,000 the first week of July to continue publication.
We have opportunity to refinance and payoff indebtedness, but loan proceeds cannot be realized until end of January.
Thank you to all for your support of the Beacon.
Owner, Publisher: Doug Cole
Read the full issue of the Belle Fourche Beacon by clicking here.
