We have seen an increase in the number of subscribers to our text alert option for the Times Vedette recently, and I am glad to see it. For those of you who don’t know what this option is, it is a basic text message sent to your smart phone over the noon hour on Tuesdays and Fridays with a link to the “hot off the press” issue of the Times Vedette. Click the link, and the web browser on your phone opens up with the latest edition. It is a free service, and we don’t text you with other messages or sell your data to any other service. We simply think it is a nice way to receive your Times Vedette. I speak from experience, as this is how I receive mine.
You may wonder why you would want the Times Vedette link texted to you when you already receive the email. You may not, and that’s just fine. You may be one of our readers who reads the Times Vedette on a computer, checks email regularly and prefers to receive communication that way. If so, there is no need to change, as we will continue to send the Times Vedette email to you that way. Meanwhile, a significant number of people don’t check their email regularly, and some choose not to use email at all. The text alert is a great option for those folks. You may have children or grandchildren who may prefer this method, and we hope you tell them about this.
If you want to give it a try, you can sign up here. Just enter your phone number and click a couple of boxes. And, if you decide it is not for you, unsubscribing is just as easy.
Letters to the editor
I have had requests lately to run letters to the editor. This is a common feature for many traditional newspapers, but it is not something we do in our publications, for several reasons. First, our print publications are monthlies, and the subject of the letters, in many cases, would not be timely and would not give ample response time in follow-up editions, if needed. Second, and most importantly, we don’t want the editorial content of our publications to get into the mud of politics and divisive issues. We do certainly cover government meetings and elections, but our main focus is on the positive happenings related to the people, places and events of Guthrie County. With social media sites like Facebook, Next Door and others, there are plenty of places to spew anger and venom. Meanwhile, we have accepted, and we will continue to accept, political and issue advertising, with some exceptions. The ads cannot be libelous or offensive in nature, and they must follow all federal, state and local laws pertaining to political advertising.
Newspapers of past generations used their influence to attempt to get certain people elected, have certain bond issues passed, and meddle in politics. Most of those newspapers are now gone or remain in a diminished form today. I am not trying to change the world, and I am not arrogant enough to think you should all have the same opinions I have. I simply want to share the news and information that is important to local residents and to hopefully bring a smile to your face.
Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707