By Neena Strichart
We all work hard at our jobs— especially those who are passionate about their careers. The folks here at the Signal Tribune toil away day after day and do so because we feel rewarded by the experience. Oh, I don’t mean rewarded monetarily— none of us is in the high tax brackets— but we are rewarded by knowing we provide a valuable service.
As of late, we are facing tough times financially and have to really tighten our belts. Our local businesses are scaling back their advertising, if they are able to advertise at all, and the economy has everyone scared. Nevertheless, we continue on, putting out this weekly miracle, a true labor of love.
Word on the street is that Monday the Grunion Gazette is launching a new publication in our area. Oh, yes. Another competitor here to scramble for the ever—dwindling ad dollars. But what puzzles us is why. Why would a multi—million dollar corporation bother to spend the money to grasp for pennies and try to compete to report news up in our neck of the woods? I used to wonder, until it was made clear that they were given tens of thousands of dollars to do so by Leadership Long Beach through Long Beach Community Foundation somehow involved with Connected Corridor— somewhat like the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. For those not familiar with the six—degrees phenomenon, it rests on the notion that everyone can be linked to everyone else within merely six degrees. Example: I can be linked to Jayne Mansfield…here’s how: My Uncle Arthur married Jeraldine Saunders, a former Mr. Blackwell model, and Mr. Blackwell designed dresses for Jayne Mansfield. Hmmmm, that was an easy one. Get the point?
Anyway, I’m not the only one who finds the Gazette’s launch of the Uptown Grunion curious. Lots of folks are asking questions— I think it all goes pretty deep.
Even with all of this controversy in the air, we have done our best to keep focused on delivering a quality and thoughtful product to our customers. We continue to serve our advertisers with the utmost of respect and understanding. We feel appreciated but didn’t realize to what extent until we received an insertion order for a full—page, color ad earlier this week. The customer, Mark Hawkins of InkPeace, was quite cryptic with his request. He wouldn’t tell me what the ad was for, just asked me to reserve the space. The next day we received the information to create the ad that you will find on the back page of this issue. We were stunned— and there wasn’t a dry eye in the office. I ask you to take a look at page 16— this is why we do what we do— we do it for all of you.
