Paperboys, a new business model
Contrary to the theory that newspaper circulation is down because of the Internet or the lack of time or the irrelevance of the content, I have a different theory: the decline of paperboys.
There was something about the teen-aged paperboy -- his innocence, his pluck, his salesmanship, his buyer's soft heart, I don't know -- that sold papers. Ask a circulation director and they'll tell you the same thing.
Most newspapers eliminated teenagers as paperboys years ago as delivery routes got larger and adults with cars could deliver the papers faster and more efficiently. Plus there was the sticky issue of safety: no one wanted to be responsible for a 14-year-old out walking around town at 4 a.m.
I was a paperboy when I was 14. It never occurred to me to be worried when I was out there, but I was a dumb kid. Now, I can't imagine what motorists passing me walking to the paper drop-site thought I was doing out. And I'd no more let a child of mine do it than I'd let him play on the interstate. But it was good money for a boy who couldn't get a worker's permit for another year and a half.
It may not be possible to bring them back. But maybe we should have the kids sell the paper and the adults deliver it?
Comments (6)
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Ah yes, I remember my days delivering The Greensboro Daily News and The Greensboro Record. At one time I had the largest bicycle route in the city. And I had both routes at the same time. Thankfully my afternoon route was smaller than my evening route as I spent almost 7 hours a day delivering and collecting.
Actually, while getting out at 4 AM was tough and paying for that storm door I tossed the Sunday paper through was a heart breaker for an 11 year old (the lazy customer demanded delivery on the porch) the worst part of the job was getting people to actually pay their bills. The lengths people will go to not to pay for their paper is simply amazing.
And those same people still probably don't realize why their houses and yards got egged and TPed every year.
I kept a paper route from 11 until I turned 16.
Posted on November 26, 2007 9:27 AM
I had this conversation early this year with David Reno. His theory was that a local paperboy put a personal touch on the paper, which made it more difficult for people to say no when asked about renewing their subscriptions. I don't know if it's possible, but the next best thing, to me, would be to devise a fundraiser where neighborhood kids go door-to-door and their schools or PTAs keep part of the proceeds from each sale.
The trick, I think, is to balance what would look to be a low price ("$10 a month" vs. "$120 a year") and then have the neighbors continue to renew every few weeks.
David mentioned a few other obstacles that would need to be overcome, but I think it's possible. And the guy or gal who figures it out would deserve a nice bonus.
Posted on November 26, 2007 10:19 AM
I was a paper GIRL from age 11 to 14 when high school activities started making my evening delivery schedule hard to keep. Mom delivered for me twice and then I had to make a choice: band and drama or money. At any rate in those years I had saved almost $400 with delivering newspapers considering my first year of college cost me $500 I did very well as a paper girl. I will always be grateful to the Steubenville Herald Star for my first year at West Liberty State College. BB
Posted on November 26, 2007 1:37 PM
Oh, I forgot to mention that during those years I won several contests sponsored by the newspaper for its delivery staff. The one I really wanted however I couldn't collect because it was a trip to Washington DC and I was the only girl to win which posed real problems for the newspaper and having to make all separate arrangements for me as well as assigning a female staff member as my personal escort. I settled for a great big pay off of $20 instead of DC. BB
Posted on November 26, 2007 1:43 PM
Speaking of that paperboy thing, two thoughts:
(1) My sister gets the Sunday NYTimes. She was just informed that her new carrier is the N&R delivery person. You were outsourced? How cool.
(2) Who do I have to pay (off) to get my paper delivered up the driveway a bunch of feet (that is, closer to the door) so I don't have to greet all the a.m. walkers at 5:45 a.m. whilst possibly still bathrobed? (I yearn for the now-retired delivery walker who my sister used to have.)
Posted on November 26, 2007 4:25 PM
can i be one
Posted on February 28, 2008 11:33 PM