BJ combines sections, hikes single-copy to 75 cents

Beginning next week the Beacon Journal will have only three sections by putting the Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday features sections into the second section of the newspaper which will be called "Community.".

That second section will still be anchored by local news but now also will include business, health, home and religion articles plus the comics and TV grid, Monday’s “This Place This Time" history feature and Sunday’s Scene.

Movie reviews and the weekly Mailbag will move to Enjoy on Thursdays. The people column will be published only on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the second section.

Now for the bad news: The price for the Akron Beacon Journal Monday through Saturday will increase from 50 cents to 75 cents at retail outlets and vending locations beginning Monday.

Editor Bruce Winges at least was being upfront about the changes. The changes were announced in a story with his byline spread across five columns on page A 1. The price change was announced in a First Word item in the first column.

The succinct news, however was in the next to last graph of the story which reads:

“The Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday features sections are being eliminated as
we move the best of that content to the daily Community section and Thursday’s Enjoy. We are making the change because it is critical that we use our newsprint in the best way possible as that expense rises, while keeping important local articles.”

Page A2 will be used for throws, possible sidebars for A1 stories or a top local story.

The last graph by Winges gives readers a promise:

“The Beacon Journal remains committed to providing a comprehensive local news report for Akron and its surrounding communities.”

You will want to read it for yourself though, so click on the headline.