Take a good look at this week’s hardcopy issue of The Lake Orion Review. Remember it fondly — next week, the ‘old? Review will be gone. Our July 4 edition will come out with a bang and a new, contemporary, easy to hold and read design.
Your Review will be 12-inches tall and 11.5-inches wide. The “old” paper is 15-inches tall and 11.5-inches wide. The Review will have only one fold, versus the two folds in the current paper.
‘While not ahead of the industry curve, we’re not behind it either,? Publisher Jim Sherman, Jr., said. ‘Newspapers across the globe, even the Wall Street Journal, are putting out these contemporary tabloid products.?
Sherman said the change in paper size will cut down on waste that goes into landfills and help defray postage increases — savings will be passed on to consumers.
‘The cost of production and distribution is growing rapidly, yet the cost to subscribe to The Review has remained unchanged for a good number of years. We don’t want to price ourself out of the market. This change will allow us to keep advertising rates attractive to local, mom and pop businesses — which I am sure they will appreciate.?
This conversion will also force our reporters and editors to write more crisply and clearly, and to get to the point quicker. Our photo selection will also improve.
The 125-year-old community newspaper has changed sizes over the course of its history. Up until 1972, The Review was a broadsheet — about twice the physical size it is today. In December of 1972, Jim Sherman, Sr. and his wife Hazel purchased The Review and converted the size to match up with their Oxford printing facility.
Also affected by the change are the Total Market Coverage publications, The Ad-Vertiser and The Penny Stretcher, The Citizen and the paid weekly newspapers, The Oxford Leader and Clarkston News.
‘Not affected will be our commitment to providing our community with the best-possible news coverage and the best way local businesses connect with local residents,? Sherman said. ‘We will not reduce editorial content. It’s a big change for us. It’s a little scary, but exciting, too. I think the readers and advertisers will really like it.?
The conversion will not change the web edition of The Review, though a new feature will be added on the web next week. See next week’s LO Down for all the details.