I've been a continuous Morning Call subscriber for 34 years, every day, seven days a week. I think that might well be some sort of record. Even other dinosaurs, occasionally, have let their subscriptions expire, to take advantage of some promotion. Not me, full ticket, paid by the year. The last couple of years, as their delivery system broke down, I have taken to pay semi annually. Quarterly will now be the prudent choice. I no longer attempt to complain about a missing paper. Waiting to speak to somebody in India is detrimental to my blood pressure. molovinsky on allentown opens early, but the paper keeps coming later; Even mcall doesn't refresh itself until about 5:45 a.m. I no longer get the paper in time for my morning coffee, the pot is long empty by the time it arrives. I suppose soon I'll have to get my news from the City Web Site.
above reprinted from October of 2011
ADDENDUM JUNE 20, 2024:While I still get the Morning Call on-line, I finally stopped getting the hard copy paper around 2018. When the phone call comes from India several times a year offering me a free Sunday hard copy edition, I beg her not to include me. While I read numerous complaints about the paper's content on social media, I think that they still do a pretty good job with the local news, considering their handicaps of not having a newsroom and a reduced staff.
I am still a full, hard copy subscriber. It’s been over 50 years now. I am also a frequent complainer about its constant political bias in favor of anything claimed by Democrats. They are to a point where their political news is mostly government supplied propaganda littered with exaggerated and false information. Just not trustworthy.
ReplyDeleteThen, the increasing problem of censorship taking place. So much going on right now to overthrow our Republic, but if your main source for national news is the Morning Call you are seriously being kept in the dark.
I wonder who really determines what is found in the Morning Call. Of course, the Associated Press, New York Times, Washington Post are regularly lifted and republished here. All three of those originators are now often deceptive and fully Liberal in their message.
I suspect the local Morning Call team is forced to carry that stuff, but by whom? As for local viewpoints contributed, more fair and balanced could be included, but even this remains lacking and biased toward just one philosophy.
As far as I’m concerned, the Morning Call is failing MOST of its potential audience due to its political slant. Doesn’t sound like the best business plan to encourage growth in readership.
Not sure how much longer I will support the Morning Call by paid subscription. It’s now far too expensive per copy for what it has become. They are better options elsewhere.
I was a delivery boy for the Evening Chronicle years ago. it was a basic lesson in individual business, delivering, promptly, where the customer wanted the paper, and collecting the money and developing interpersonal relationships. a valuable lesson for anyone. When the media became strictly a political organization it lost half its readers, same as the tv media, it will all eventually disappear.
ReplyDeleteI did subscribe to the online edition, For about 10-12 years. About 2018 I chose not to renew and I have not regretted that decision. There are other local sites which carry the news about Allentown and the area, which work just fine for me.
ReplyDeleteThe morning call is the most conflicted news outlet in the area. The two local bloggers and other news sites report on the declining statistics of the area. There bag the call in the circular file as the dinasor has just become the used car salesman of allentowns rip off of all of pa.
ReplyDeleteMy history with the MC mirrors MM's. I've been a subscriber, both personally or through my business, since 1972. I now have a digital subscription and yes, get the Sunday paper (only because I've been too lazy to cancel it). I'm sure when I do I will be told it will take very little off my bill. Much like the cable tv companies. When one wanted to 'add' telephone service it was another $20 per month. But when one wanted to eliminate the phone, they took off $5 monthly.
ReplyDeleteThe Morning Call could increase its value to the public greatly if it only provided information that can’t easily be found elsewhere. That means mostly local, unique to the life we live here.
ReplyDeleteThe Morning Call can give-up most of the federal political crap. They’re not very good at it and that stuff can easily be found other places without paying for it.
It appears to have the same format as the other Tribune papers in the chain. Furthermore, regionally, there is no competition. All things considered, I'm glad we have a local still in publication.
DeleteWe held on as subscribers well after its "best buy" date. It was a slanted publication for years, then it became a really bad publication to go along with its bias. It holds a large portion of its readers in contempt. We stopped subscribing about 8 years ago. Haven't really missed it. It sits in my office lobby usually untouched.
ReplyDeleteIt is, and has been, a dead man walking for years. One can get local news without it, although one of those sites, is made up of a lot of former staff often making the very same mistakes.
I gave up on The Call years ago... would pick it up on Friday for auction listings and Sunday for the ads... now those parts are practically nil plus they've ruined the obits!!! The size of the paper, physically and content wise is so reduced, it should be 10 cents, and that's too much! And then, it's all slanted news and feel good garbage with little or no substance. There really isn't too much content one can actually use...
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to reporting all sides of an issue and let the reader decide???
TV news is the same, too. When Rob Vaughn first started with 69, he had a great program, now it's mostly feely-nicey garbage... where's the beef???? It's all part of the big plan, I'll bet my money on it!!!
The articles written by Keith Groller are the only reason i have an E-subscription. The letters to the editor page is painful with same contributors. and then there is Bill White - didn't he retire a couple of years ago after eating too much at Muskifest? If not he should do both.
ReplyDelete