"The Garden Island news and the rest of the story..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #333)

 

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer  

amongst other things is a Humorist writer.

Rosen currently resides on the tropical island of Kaua'i

                                         with his best friend and spiritual adviser,                                  

                                   Ivanka "Costco" Obama, The Bipartisan Dog!

                            Sunrise/Weather Photos, June- 2022

                                 These photos appeared on Hawaii News Now

      

                    Blog #2087~Kimo's world #333

The Garden Island news and the rest of the story 

 

 

I read the Garden Island News

every morning with a cup of Joe and my dog at my side.  I not only read the periodical but dissect it cover to cover for not only editorial content but for their display ads. 

 

I am somewhat of a publishing nerd since that’s what I did for many years.  I know how to look

Pierce Brosnan with Alaska People
magazine publisher, James "Kimo" Rosen

at a periodical and count ad sales to editorial content.   

Upon my inspection I have concluded there is no way our hometown newspaper is making money. 

 

They must pay writers, photographers, graphics people, and editors even though they are currently functioning without an editor-n-chief.

They must pay a hefty rent, print the paper on Oahu and airfreight it back six days a week, and have an army of delivery drivers for home delivery. 

They also need account executives previously known as ad sales reps to sell ads to be able to pay the expenses. 

When you count the ad to editorial ratio this newspaper we all enjoy is losing its shirt! How does it stay afloat?

The parent company, Oahu publications own multiple publications including its flagship newspaper 'The Honolulu Staradvertiser' and three other daily newspapers in Hawaii.

The Big Island has two of those publications, 'West Hawaii Today' in Kona and 'The Hawaii Island Tribune' in Hilo, and last but not least the best newspaper of them all on Kauai, ‘The Garden Island News.”In addition, the company publishes a collection of 14 Visitor and Lifestyle publications including “Midweek!” 

Now the clincher, the Hana Hou so to speak! Oahu Publications is owned by David Holmes Black a Canadian media proprietor who founded and is the majority

owner of Black Press Group Ltd., the largest private newspaper publisher in Canada. He serves as the company's Chief Executive Officer and President. Black Press also owns over 3500 other publications in the US and Canada including the Toronto Star and you guessed it, The Garden Island News.

You can see the company has many holdings.  The Garden Island news survives off the other

  Black and Oahu publications that make money. It’s clear the Garden Island news is going through some tough trials and is not in the black financially but at least in the 'Black' with ownership! 

There may come a day soon that all four of the newspapers that Oahu publications own will merge

as one statewide newspaper? After all how long can the other publications support The Garden Island  News, in the case of Oahu Publications and Black press, most likely a long time?

I am thankful to David Black the owner of Black Press a Canadian company that owns  Oahu   Publications.

All I can say to our Canadian friend is Mahalo Nui Loa, Aye!

Hana Hou (Encore)