I am often asked how we are able to grow the readership of our publications while paid subscription newspapers continue to suffer from declines. The answer is two-fold.

First, it starts with our business model, which is based on providing our publications for free to our readers. Unfortunately, many paid subscription newspaper publishers became greedy over the years, increasing the costs for consumers to subscribe while providing less content (more on this in point No. 2). Charging more and giving less is not a good recipe for any business. This became more complicated when paid subscription newspapers decided to give away content on their websites and social media for free. I challenge you to name any other industry that had two-thirds of households buying their product and then acted dumbfounded when fewer people continued to purchase it because they could get it for free from the same company elsewhere. That decision by newspaper execs continues to be mind-boggling.

For us, the digital option was simple. We give our publications away for free in print… and online. Our digital efforts do not exist to replace our print publications (and alienate our most loyal readers) but rather to enhance our print publications. That may change over time, but, for now, our print readership far exceeds our digital readership. Meanwhile, we are focused on providing as much news and information as we can through every available medium — for free.

Second, content truly is king. Michael Gartner shared a story with me a few years ago from Abe Rosenfeld, who was the executive editor of The New York Times. Rosenfeld’s father ran a lunch counter in Manhattan. He said there were lunch counters everywhere at the time, and business was awful for all of them. To help their bottom line, some of them started adding water to the soup. Their customers soon realized this and went elsewhere. Slowly, those lunch counters went out of business. Rosenfeld said his father took a different approach and added more tomatoes to his soup, and his customer base grew. That was Rosenfeld’s — and is Gartner’s — advice to improve newspapers. Newspapers and magazines today need more tomatoes — more content.

At Big Green Umbrella Media, we spend substantial time and money on producing local content for our publications. Although we certainly don’t have it all figured out, we are convinced that a focus on local content is crucial to any success we may have.

So despite the fact that most paid subscription newspapers are dying, all print is clearly not dead. We are proving it. Others are, too. There is also no doubt that in the media world — both in print and online — content is king. We are determined to prove that as well — one tomato at a time. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305

If you had to name a device that defined how people of a specific era listened to music, what would you offer? Today, the options seem endless. Seems like just yesterday when the iPod was invented. Then streaming music. And now smart home devices. But, how about past decades?

The jukebox for the 1950s? Albums on console stereos for the 1960s? How about 8-track players for the 1970s? And, then there were the 1980s, the era when I attended high school and college.  What would you suggest represents music listening habits for that timeframe? Cassette recorders? CD players? 

For people of all ages in the 1980s, it was all about the Sony Walkman. That single device changed how we listened to music, and it added an element of “cool” to cassettes. Sony truly was “the one and only.”

I vividly remember my first Walkman. Silver metallic. Cassette only. (Who needed radio?) Lightweight headphones. Telescopic case. I listened to my cassettes in that player for countless hours. And when it finally wore out, I bought the yellow Walkman Sports version.

The original Walkman launched in Tokyo in 1979. Ultimately, total production of Walkman units surpassed 200 million globally with more than 300 different Walkman models. But as cassettes became less popular, so did the Walkman, and this seemingly must-have gadget came to an end in 2010. 

Will the iPhone meet the same demise? Seems unlikely today, but many of us Walkman users thought the same in the 1980s.

How about you? Did you own a Walkman? Which model? Do you still have it? Shoot me a note and let me know.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and, as always, thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

As Americans returned to the office after the COVID-19 pandemic, many adopted a style that became known as “workleisure,” as CNBC reported at the time. “Ties are out, and stretchy pants are in,” they claimed. Well, Iowa is not New York, and if you are a guy like me, you haven’t worn neck ties in quite a while. Having said that, I am also not wearing stretchy pants to work, or anywhere for that matter. And, thank goodness.

Dress attire has changed a great deal in my lifetime. When I graduated from college in 1990 and started working at The Des Moines Register, I needed to purchase some business attire. On my first day, I called on Joe Tumea at the Foreman and Sons clothing store in Southridge Mall, and he not-so-subtly pointed out that I was dressing “like a college punk” and that if I wanted to be respected in the business world, I needed to dress professionally. Within seconds, he had his measuring tape out and was fitting me for suits. Later in life, Joe and his family opened one of my favorite restaurants, Tumea & Sons. I reminded him of this incident one evening over an incredible lasagna. He reminded me that he was right. 

My father had a slightly different outlook on what to wear. He owned a gravel and excavation company and was covered in dirt and grease most days. His daily dress code consisted of blue jeans and work boots. But. when it came time for church on Sunday, he almost always wore a suit and tie. His belief was that we should all wear our best clothes in a place of worship. If our best clothes were T-shirts and blue jeans, then so be it. But, whatever our best clothes were, those should be the ones worn in God’s house. It’s difficult to argue with that. 

Check out old photos of attendees at baseball games, and you will see crowds of men wearing suits, ties and hats and women in dresses and heels. Try finding that today. 

There are still a few hold-outs. My friend Joe Mathes wears a suit every time he flies. He says he feels like he is treated with more respect when he does. I think he is right. 

Admittedly, our dress code at Big Green Umbrella Media is the most relaxed of any place I have worked at. I expect our staff members who work with readers or advertisers in person to be dressed in business casual (no jeans), but those who work in the office can be on the relaxed side (but no shorts).

Meanwhile, don’t expect to see Joe Tumea — or me — in stretchy pants. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305

Do you remember pulling up to the gas pump and carefully filling your tank by rounding to the nearest dollar? Some of you may recall the days before auto-shut-offs when you would overfill your tank and have gas spill all over the side of your car and the pavement. And a select few of you may unfortunately recollect driving off from the station with the nozzle still in your tank and the hose dragging down the road. 

Some of the more age-experienced readers of this column may even reminisce about the days of the full-service station when a friendly attendant would not only fill your tank but check your oil and wash your windshield. “Fill ’er up!”

Believe it or not, there was a time when buying gasoline was straightforward. Then, along came a gazillion choices. It started in the 1970s with unleaded, and that was simple enough. Now, we have a variety of octane choices along with three different ethanol blends. I didn’t know I needed a master’s degree in petroleum engineering to fill my car with gas. 

Unfortunately, choosing your gas is just part of the process. Although I appreciate the whole pay-at-the-pump idea — as it prevents me from indulging in a Coke Zero fountain drink and a Snickers bar — I cringe at all the information I am often asked to submit at the pump and the seemingly endless questions I have to answer. Debit? Credit? Zip code? Fuel saver card? Car wash? And then, at some stations, I can’t concentrate because of the blaring music and the barrage of ads popping up on the display screen. I just want some gas, for Pete’s sake!

But, alas, I eventually surrender my name, rank and serial number and begin fueling. And, as I put the nozzle back in the pump and submit to accepting the entire pay-at-the-pump process, a message comes across the screen that I need to go inside the store to collect my receipt. Ugh. So I do — and I buy a Coke Zero fountain drink and a Snickers. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and, as always, thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Where you sit may say more about you than you think.

At home, the decision is relatively easy. Most of us have a regular place where we sit at the dinner table or while watching TV. And if someone takes that spot, look out. An Archie Bunker situation might arise. Meathead.

But what about at work or at a meeting of some sort? That’s where things can get interesting. 

According to Psychology Today, sitting in the end seat shows that you are the leader, or that you are in control, or that you are there to intimidate. Those are not shockers.

If you are in a middle seat, you may be sending a message that you are a part of the team, that you are approachable, or that you are there to collaborate. Makes sense to me.

Meanwhile, other positions may suggest meanings that are not as obvious. According to Wisestep, the most important tip is to be punctual so you can choose your seat. Then pick the spot with the best view, which means the “safest back area, best sight of windows, doors, other meeting attendees, projection or video screen.” The article also states that if you are trying to influence someone at the meeting, you should sit “where you can directly view each other and exchange eye contacts.”

The article continues by suggesting that you should avoid seats close to windows, as they may become a constant distraction and cause you to miss out on a significant point.

If all this seems like too much to remember, the writers suggests that you simply ask the host or the leader of the meeting where you should sit.

I had a boss who was particular about seating arrangements, especially at dinner meetings. He would have it all planned out in advance, being sure to connect the right people with each other.

Another boss was ingenious at picking out seats for himself at conferences or training sessions that were close to the exit doors. If the topics became boring, or if he became stuck with people he didn’t want to be around, he would be able to leave quickly and quietly. 

Bottom line, we can all accomplish more by choosing appropriate seats, and we can learn about others’ motivation by observing how they do, too.

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

As human beings, we tend to gravitate toward others who are similar to us. Similar backgrounds. Similar beliefs. Similar values. It’s natural, and it should not be condemned. Can we learn from others who are not like us? Absolutely, and we should. But, that doesn’t mean we should feel guilty or be judged negatively for choosing to spend our valuable time with those who are similar to us. 

Some call this elitism, selectionism, or even racism. I call it instinctive. And, it has nothing to do with the accent of a person’s voice, the origin of a person’s birth, or the color of a person’s skin. Or, at least it shouldn’t. But, if we are being honest, it does have a lot to do with a person’s age, income, education and interests. And, mostly, it has to do with having a common culture. 

I had a business partner many years ago who was smart, creative and talented, but we grew up much differently. He had never mowed a lawn before. Or shoveled a sidewalk. Or run a vacuum cleaner. We had vastly different perspectives on spending money and how to operate a business. The bottom line was that I needed the business to make money, and he didn’t. Needless to say, that relationship didn’t work out. Neither one of us were right or wrong, just different. 

When I meet new people, one of the first things I ask them is what their hometowns are. I can usually find some connection from there. When I lived in Nebraska, that was tougher to do, as I was an “outsider.” I had to find other things to connect with these folks on. Ultimately, I learned that if I wanted to fit in, I had to conform. So, I bought my family University of Nebraska shirts, and I started reading up on “Big Red” football so I could join in on the conversations. It worked. And, even though I had very little interest in Husker football, I enjoyed getting to know many wonderful people and learning about their other interests. 

So, what’s the message? Wanting to be around people like you is natural, but reaching out beyond your immediate circle is important, too. It doesn’t always work out as planned, but if you want to truly connect, you sometimes have to do something that isn’t so natural — conform. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and, as always, thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707