Happy 2024. I need to take a moment to thank everyone who reads Scoop and who has supported me with the transition, rebranding, and just pure survival of this publication. I have faced some struggles, and I have had some successes. But I must say, 2023 was a very difficult year, one that I hope to never see anything like again.
In 2023, we at Scoop learned many things, such as–we only had four, maybe five dedicated advertisers (people/businesses who advertise frequently to support free community news), and even with a large-scale election, only a total of nine candidates out of more than 30 politicians (combined primary and general election) advertised and shared their background, goals, and objectives with our readers (that’s another story for another day).
While at the same time, many, and I mean many people, businesses, and entities, request coverage and want to share information. It’s amazing that people really expect you to attend, send (pay) staff/photographers, and then share their programs and events–even people who don’t read the paper and don’t support at all; and if you request a donation or advertisement, the response is, “We don’t have it or you are supposed to support me.” It is nearly impossible to be everywhere and support everyone, especially when few contribute or advertise—which is how income is generated to pay for the paper and so staff can cover and support our communities.
Here’s another very important fact. I am a Black female who was raised in North Philadelphia. I am not running around trying to increase my ratings by making sure I get every minority story–heck, I am a minority myself. Scoop has always covered all races and ethnicities, even when Black stories were not trending and “hitting numbers” like they are today. In fact, for the most part, I am in the community, standing with you, sharing the joy and the pain—because I am from the community, I live the same life most of you do every day. I work about 16 hours each day, reading articles, researching, editing and putting papers together, attending events, delivering papers and running an office. And, it’s a lot. But I still believe it is worth it. I believe in what I do and who it is done for—the community people, who are thankful to get Scoop each week.
And those are the people I need to thank for helping me learn the value of Scoop and its place in the community and our history.
In addition to thanking you all, I need to share that I will continue to work to be here. But, and this is a huge BUT, I need your help. The community must support a “community-focused” entity such as Scoop. Scoop is nothing without the people.
More than 60% of the people in Philadelphia are not tech-savvy, do not listen to robocalls, and have checked out. These are the people that we work to reach each week.
We must Change this Narrative… We need our readers to share Scoop and let people know that this is OUR publication and always has been. We need readers, advertisers, and people in general to know that while the paper is FREE, it really is not free for us to print, publish, or distribute. We need people to advertise and support Scoop, and if you advertise, we need you to pay us for your ads. Don’t pay in 90 days, but in a timely manner, just as we must pay print/delivery costs—not one, two, or three days later, but on those very days we print and deliver the paper.
Also, note that Scoop’s advertising rates are the cheapest in town. Yes, they appear to be the same as some other papers, but if you compare rate and size, we give more bang for your buck, and at least 40,000 readers will see your ad each week. Remember, advertising is visibility (not response).
Believe it or not, lack of or late payments and lack of support are the primary reasons that most Black or minority publications go out of business. We don’t have the purse of mainstream media and we don’t generate income from ratings. When we don’t get paid or people don’t advertise, we lose, and so do our communities.
So, I ask that everyone who can–do something small, purchase an ad or subscribe and share information.
As I shared when I started this article, 2023 was one of the most difficult years of my life, and I have not had an easy life at all. I am praying for a good year in 2024, one where I can breathe and know that this paper is secure.
I thank you for reading Scoop, and I pray that we all have a brighter year in 2024. It is definitely time for some good.
Love and Respect Always, Sherri
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