JULY 10, 2012 — Our speaker today was Bill Hawkins, Editor of the Post and Courier of Charleston.  Bill joined the paper in 2005 and ultimately replaced retiring Editor and Rotarian, Larry Tarleton. A native of Pennsylvania, he received his degree from Cornell University.  While newspapers in general are struggling, the P&C is in much better shape due to no major competitor and no union contracts. While the paper lost some big advertisers like Circuit City, its mainstay continues to be small businesses.

The entry of the digital world has affected all newspapers but the P&C has retooled to present a lean but effective on line source of information. It is now charging a fee for non- newsprint subscribers and has increased its sales force to provide the best on line information possible.

It recognizes that many people use Facebook, but research is showing that advertisers are not gaining sales from space on Facebook and some huge corporations like General Motors have dropped advertising space. It is apparent that print news is still of great interest to people; it is lasting, can be read again “tomorrow,” and people literally spend more time with their newspapers. One fourth of the 18 to 24 year old group regularly read a daily paper and within the next few years a huge influx of the baby boomer generation will retire and control 70% of the disposable income. And they read the paper!

Over the past several years the Post and Courier has shown leadership in such investigative stories as the Sofa Store Fire, the Hurricane Insurance Costs, the national award to the Wentworth Inn and more is “in the works.”

Warren Buffet just purchased 70 small newspapers recognizing that people want local hometown news, which can best be provided by their daily paper.

Asked what stories will be “front page” in the months ahead, he noted:  The Economy; The Port; The Cruise Lines; Education. On Super Bowl Sunday, more people read the Sunday paper than watched the game!

Submitted by Fred Sales, Keyway Committee