Looking back over the News Review’s 79th year reveals a varied and adventurous period. At the start of the year, the paper debuted its color pages. Each week since, at least four pages have been in color and the online paper has all the color material faithfully reproduced even where it isn’t in color in the printed paper. Occasionally, when there’s a lot of photos and advertising, the paper indulges in an extra four color pages. Reader reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Readers enjoy the more vibrant appearance and many of the photos that were, well, somewhat grey in monochrome, come alive in color. Advertisers too appreciate the option of color – with their ads having more impact and appeal. The paper continues to hold its own financially and the economies and streamlining that characterized year 78 came to fruition in the 79th. Advances in how we put the paper together and earlier attention to detail in editing have resulted in a production cycle that is some hours shorter without any dilution of quality. The paper is not error-free, alas, but it compares well with its larger professional brethren. Looking forward to being eight decades old is a refreshing prospect. With a fundamentally healthy paper, there’s a freedom to try new ideas and embark on new projects. Already planned and underway are a documentary about the paper, timed for release around the 80th birthday. There is a scheme afoot to re-digitize all the papers (1937 – 2001) that were not born digital, scanning about 33,000 pages and significantly improving the quality of our current online archive. The GNR board is seeking funding and expertise to carry out this ambitious project. Although GNR’s current digital archive is fairly complete, the scans are not of high quality and the continued disintegration of the papers stored in office file drawers will erode the town’s history. Readers will hear more of these tantalizing enterprises in the months to come. Meanwhile, raise a toast to a hardy perennial as Issue 1 of Volume 80 takes to the streets.
