NORFOLK
The Virginian-Pilot will increase the price of Sunday newspapers in boxes to $1.50 from $1.25 on Sunday. It will be the first price increase for the newspaper in 18 years.
Sunday newspapers in retail stores will cost $1.25 but will go up to $1.50 early next year, said Mark Quan, the newspaper's circulation director. The cost for weekday and Saturday newspapers will remain 50 cents.
Maurice Jones, the president and publisher of The Pilot, attributed the price increases in part to a 20 percent increase in newsprint costs over the past year, as well as sizable jumps in gas prices.
The Pilot last raised prices in 1990 - to 50 cents from 35 on weekdays and to $1.25 from $1 on Sundays. Quan said the $1.25 Sunday price was on the low end for the industry. Even at $1.50, "people will be getting an incredible value" in terms of reporting, ads and coupons, he said.
In July, the Daily Press in Newport News raised its rates to $2 on Sundays and to 75 cents on other days.
The Pilot also will increase some subscription rates, Quan said.
Staff researchers Maureen Watts and Jakon Hays contributed to this report.
Philip Walzer, (757) 222-3864, phil.walzer@pilotonline.com
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Don't buy
I would think that anyone having a comment here concerning the price increase probably doesn't buy the newspaper anyway and get their news like I do here on the computer.
If you cannot afford or are
If you cannot afford or are complaining about a price increase of $.25 for a Sunday newspaper you really need to step back and figure out what is going wrong in your life and start doing the exact opposite. A quarter sure does add up, it is $13 over the course of a year.
Humorously ironic
I find it ironic that the people complaining about a quarter increase in price are probably the same ones texting on their Blackberry on the way to Starbucks to buy a $3 black coffee in their Hummer.
As was stated earlier; if you have a beef over $.25, you have deeper seeded financial issues (like an internet connection you probably don't need)...
Idiots is right.
Someone already used the word "idiot" and it was used perfectly...but in the wrong direction. Yes, gas prices are higher. Yes, food prices are higher. Yes, electricity is higher and yes, it's a "b-word" when any price goes up but get real - it’s only a quarter and their first increase in 18 (E-I-G-H-T-E-E-N) years. It becomes (or will become) an issue when this occurs every year or even every couple years. Wake-up - if you can't afford another quarter to read the Sunday paper then you have more issues (both personal and financial) then you're admitting to.
I live among twits and
wise members of the intellectual community such as Unclehomer. My part-time pay is going towards the property taxes in Norfolk, no frills because of that - i can't even afford granby towers 'as is'. I work hard for the money, 25 cents adds up. why live in Norfolk? well, it's the mass transit, as simple as that. I can stand at a bus stop and not be deeemed 'homeless' it's a great 'cover', my refrigerator box, just blends in with the other rubbish around the bus stops and ocassionaly I'll get a current copy of the pilot as it's tossed out of a passing Bmer. Thanks Unclehomer for your support, we tolerate the twits, uhoh, bus a coming, dang! they raised the fares again, back to the box.
A Political Future??
YaSure! The profits go down?? Raise the price! God forbid you should improve your product or reduce expenses.
You've got latent political talent. You should run for congress!
unclehomerr..
cigim
I suggest you pick up the Sunday Pilot and seek a part-time job in the classified section. That may help offset the price increase that's so dramatically affected your budget.
My dog is paper trained.
My dog is paper trained. Works great for that!!!
Revenue will drop -
the news value of the sunday edition has declined tremendously in my opinion - home deliveries are the main reason the sunday exist i'm sure, and now box sales will fall 'marketing' 101 - but then, perhaps the price will continue to be $1. at the dollar tree. I have witnessed that fewer boxes have the sunday edition, monday through saturday no prob. but come sunday - scarce. Now, personally, there is nothing to compell me to purchase the sunday editions. so I now have one less expense to worry about. Home delivery dosen't work for my schedule and life style. I guess i'll use the internet more often for news.
increase
Will we got more coupons with that?