Publisher explains home delivery’s demise
Friday, June 29 was the last day the Yukon News offered home delivery. I am writing to explain that decision.
The number of people, young people in particular, willing to deliver the Yukon News has been dropping steadily for years. Finally, when it came to the point where we could only deliver fewer than 300 copies, we decided to give up. From now on, you will need to pick up your copy at one of the fine Whitehorse establishments that sell the News.
Yukon News carriers were expected to deliver their papers by 6 p.m., twice a week, in rain, snow or frigid temperatures. In return, they kept 25 cents per copy delivered, and their tips. The carriers were supervised by two amazing women, Kathy O’Donovan and Lori Henderson. To them we owe huge thanks for their years of receiving phone calls around the clock, fielding complaints and helping the young carriers develop skills that will, we hope, help them throughout their lives.
We tried and tried to attract school-age children-you may have noticed the many ads we placed soliciting carriers for the various Whitehorse neighbourhoods. Over the years, we also tried attracting seniors, stay-at-home parents and college students. All to no avail.
From a business perspective I know this is the right decision. We tried everything we could think of to provide home delivery and we will more than make up the circulation through our newsstand sales so the value our advertisers receive will not be diminished. From a personal perspective, though, it was not so easy. The paper route I had when I was young taught me a number of valuable lessons, both positive and negative: work comes before play, customer service is vitally important, not everyone is honest.
In closing, I would like to thank all our carriers, past and present, and their parents who supported them.
Stephen Robertson
Publisher, Yukon News
3 Comments
How sad! My daughter’s first job was delivering the Yukon News and it taught her about responsibility and commitment; rain, snow or 40 below the paper still needed to be delivered. She knew all of our neighbors and to this day, almost ten years later they still remember her and ask about her. I appreciate that she had this opportunity at so young an age and feel for the kids who won’t have the same opportunity.
a number of years ago my daughter was a carrier for the news.it was a good expierance for her. one big thing she learned was what the term dead beat ment . she spent more time trying to collect the few dollars owed then delvering the paper.
Heartbreaking. I grew-up delivering the Victoria Times Colonist. 7 days a week, rain or shine. The paper had to be delivered in the morning before school and before breakfast on the weekends. We got Christmas day and New Years day off. Granted, Victoria is hardly extreme with the weather situation. However, I would deliver anywhere from 40 - 150 papers. I worked hard, earned some great tips, received cards on the holidays, met loads of neighbours, knew all the neighbourhood dogs, always had my own spending money…. bought a 5hp Suzuki Outboard motor when I was 11 years old!!! All by myself! To quote a friend, “Yet another sign of civilization’s impending collapse.” Extreme? I don’t think so. I find this so upsetting Stephen, and I appreciate your note.
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