Published: August 23, 2009 01:57 pm      

GRAHN: The Evening News partnering with post office for delivery Oct. 1

Some of us are old enough to remember when our newspapers were delivered by a cheerful boy on a bicycle.

Then once each week, he would stop by and collect the amount due for the daily newspaper. If he had kept the paper out of the bushes most of the time, he might have even collected a tip.

Somewhere along the line, newspapers realized it was more efficient to have adults in cars deliver more newspapers more quickly. And we now pay for our daily newspapers by bank draft or debit card.

The current economic slump is causing many newspapers to look, again, at delivery methods and efficiency. A growing number of newspapers are partnering with the United States Postal Service.

Yes, they are mailing the daily newspaper.

If your newspaper delivers tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands of copies per day and if your newspaper is delivered in the afternoon, then it is a good candidate for same-day mail delivery.

The Evening News has carefully weighed the options, the pros and cons, the plusses and minuses and has decided to begin mailing your newspaper, Tuesday through Saturday, beginning Oct. 1. The Sunday Evening News will continue to be delivered by our contract carriers.

Our carriers have done a great job. They have delivered through earthquakes, hurricanes, ice storms and floods. But there are efficiencies and savings inherent in partnering with the postal service that will better allow us to focus on what matters most: Covering Clark County news, information and sports better than anyone.

That is our promise and we will keep our promise.

Using the mail will not delay delivery. We will have your newspaper to the post office each morning in time for you letter carrier to deliver your newspaper to you that same day. Many of you will get your newspaper earlier. And The Evening News will be available in racks and stores by 5 a.m.

We have done extensive planning and testing and will continue to plan and test so when Oct. 1 gets here, your service will improve and the transition to same-day mail delivery will be seamless.

I encourage anyone with questions to call or e-mail me. I’ll be glad to discuss the conversion to same-day mail, or anything else, with you.

Call me at 812.206.2134 or e-mail me at jim.grahn@newsandtribune.com