How is weekly going? That’s the question we’ve been getting all month. Amazing.
For readers who aren’t aware, vendors purchase the newspaper for 25 cents and then sell it for a suggested $1 in the community. When we launched weekly at the beginning of January, we set the price of the paper for vendors at 35 cents instead of 25 cents in order to offset some of the increase in printing costs. The first couple of editions sold like hotcakes, but it was clear that additional 10 cents was eating into the vendors’ income.
After talking with vendors and the larger community, we made the decision to come back down to 25 cents. After all, why should vendors have to pay the price? Wasn’t the entire idea of going weekly suppose to mean a boost for vendors’ income? Exactly. It was the right thing to do.
So how’s it going?
Customers have responded overwhelmingly. People have communicated to vendors and staff and through social media that the move to weekly was right on time.
Small business owner Chloe Eudaly, who runs Reading Frenzy on Mississippi Avenue wrote, “You know that little paper that’s sold all over town by homeless and formerly homeless people for a buck? It’s not just a hobby or an excuse for spare changing. They’re doing investigative journalism and advocating for some of the most disenfranchised and vulnerable members of our community. They’re helping people get off the street and turn their lives around. Buy it. EVERY WEEK. Go Street Roots!” Yes!
Newspaper sales have increased overnight by nearly 40 percent over a two-week span.
“It’s been going great,” says Daniel, who sells in Northeast Portland. “My sales have literally doubled at my location. It’s allowed me to really plan out my days and meet my basic needs, while being able to save some money to get into housing.”
Then there’s the reporting. Wow. The editorial team led by managing editor Joanne Zuhl and reporter Emily Green have been knocking it out of the park. And Street Roots continues to be a platform for people experiencing poverty and for social justice organizations around Oregon. Together we are stronger.
We are proud of the work that we are doing and hope you are enjoying the weekly edition of Street Roots as much as we are. The work continues. It always does.
Watching the vendors overcome unimaginable circumstances of poverty and then to deliver the newspaper each and every day to readers throughout Portland — it’s truly inspiring. Readers offering their support by giving people a hand up is what makes it all come together. It’s a true testament to the strength of the human spirit. It gives us hope, both individually and collectively. Go team.
From all of us at Street Roots, thank you. We couldn’t do it without you.
