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Posted March 30, 2009 - Murphy, NC

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Cherokee Times to Remain Solely Online - Subscribers to Receive Refunds

Staff Reports

CHEROKEE - Current economic circumstances and the trend toward print media to increase its presence online has led the Cherokee Times to be a solely online publication. "Times just aren't good for print right now," said Publisher and CEO Joseph Martin. "Looking at what has happened to the Rocky Mountain News in Denver and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, newspapers everywhere are feeling the pinch. They'll need to find ways to remain viable and profitable on the internet."
The Cherokee Times ceased printing in Ocotober last year when the state of the economy placed the publication in a position of having to make the hard choice of printing. Martin hoped that times and circumstances would improve, but that hasn't happened, he said. Since then, the Asheville Citizen-Times has even closed its Asheville printing facility, who was handling the Times' printing, and moved it to Greenville, S.C. "Internet is the future of news reporting, and it is a viable medium for news reporting. We should embrace it."
Those who've subscribed to the print version of the Times will receive refunds on a pro rated basis, Martin said. "I appreciate the support we have gotten from our subscribers and our advertisers as well. I encourage all to visit us online." Martin said that many readers have been thankful that Cherokee Times has published online.
In the mean time, Martin still calls for support of a free press on tribal land, as well as open government legislation and other legal means of keeping elected officials accountable. "The media plays a very important role in tribal democracy. It's important that they be allowed to do their jobs."