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Newspapers bolster digitalonly sales teams Guest Column: The “blue shirt” won. Is that the best we can do? By Jim Pumarlo
Arkansas Press Association
Publisher Weekly Vol. 16 | No.40 | Thursday, October 7, 2021 | Serving Press and State Since 1873
Longtime newspaper carriers love job, community Gloria Sowle took a newspaper route to pay for her husband’s Christmas gift of an all-terrain vehicle. Thirtysix years and two four-wheelers later, Sowle continues to deliver newspapers for her hometown The Saline Courier and for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Meanwhile, at the Harrison Daily Times, 47-year-old Beverly Jones is on year number 43 of a route that began when she started riding shotgun with her newspapercarrier mother when she was a four year old in 1978. Both Sowle and Jones say they can’t think of a better way than their carrier gigs to make some extra income and meet people. Neither plan to stop throwing newspapers anytime soon. The newspaper industry this week recognizes Sowle, Jones and other carriers during the annual observance of International Newspaper Carrier Day. In 2021, International Newspaper Carrier Day is Saturday, Oct. 9. Whether it be the traditional independent contractor or, increasingly, the U.S. Postal Service delivering the printed news, newspaper carriers are a critical link between the publication and its readership. Their value cannot be understated, since they are the individuals connecting readers with a trusted source of news in their own communities. Sowle’s boss, Courier publisher Kelly Freudensprung, spent his first 13 years in the industry as a circulation director. He said he appreciates the carrier’s commitment Gloria Sowle prepares to throw The Saline Courier while on her route. to local subscribers, especially in a time where many newspapers are consolidating design and printing services in Malvern. These individuals care about their customers, and they at regional sites. know that what they do every day is important.” “The delivery of our printed pages to your front yard is hyper-local,” Freudensprung said. “In most cases, the newspaper, filled with local news and photos, is in a customer’s driveway or on the front porch within a couple of hours of being printed.”
For Sowle, the community connection is as important to her personally as it is to the company. She’ll spend time along her route catching up with her neighbors and friends.
“It’s really about the community. I love my customers. I dearly love my customers, and during the day I stop and talk to everybody who’s He continued, “Gloria is one of many dedicated, hard- willing to talk to me,” she said. “Sometimes, I’ll talk for 30 minutes to a working contract carriers that we have here in Benton and customer … It’s a lot of fun.” Continued on Page 2