I agree. But it has to be priced accordingly. $25 a month for what it provides - 3-4 local journalist written articles three times a week - is not priced accordingly. Not even close.
You will find no bigger support of local journalism than myself. I was a PS paperboy as a kid. I willingly pay for The Times Union, Lake George Mirror, Adirondack Life, Adirondack Explorer and NCPR. I usually buy local newspapers when I travel around the northeast. But those are priced appropriate for the content they provide.
Supporters of community journalism cannot exist in a theoretical vacuum. To survive, consumers have to feel like they are coming something vaguely close to getting what they pay for if you want them to keep paying for it. The leaderless, corporate-emasculated Post-Star is a long way from that. I respect what their journalists are trying to do but the system they operate in is not set up for their success.
Frankly, I get at least as much consequential local news from the Times-Union and WNYT than I do from the Post-Star. That would've been an absurd notion a few years ago before Lee emasculated it.
Generic wire service crap was a waste of space when it was a daily, but even more so as a 3x a week paper. Take the money they're spending on the AP and Dear Abby and spend it all on local reporters so they provide 10-15 articles an issue instead of 2-3. THAT would be closer to worth $25/mo. It may have been different when you started in the business. But in 2025, no one reads the Post-Star to find out the Yankees score from 4 days ago. They want to know about what is happening locally. The other stuff they can get elsewhere. But Lee is too clueless to get out of the death spiral.
I would think that counting the folks in Glens Falls would be more difficult that what John Casserly did in Canton. What he didn't count was the folks that came to Main St/Rt 11 from other directions. So, his 700 count total was short, perhaps by 100.
The enthusiasm and any crowd approaching 800 is a lot in St. Lawrence County and Canton wasn't the only SLC Town where a "No King" march happened.
Thanks for all that you do to keep us informed from the other side of the NY21.
I thought it looked like more than 600. Reminded me of the first big BLM rally in Potsdam in 2020! I was disappointed it happened to be the same day as Pride, which I had already committed to. I was so glad to see the videos NCN had posted.
There were about 800 people that showed up to demonstrate in Canton, NY.
I wonder if anyone could put together a list of towns and villages where there were "No KIngs" demonstrations along with the estimated number of attendees across the NY 21st.
Yes, democracy is still alive, even in conservative Upstate NY! I went to the Indivisible ADK/Saratoga protest, and there was a great turnout. It’s so encouraging, and we must continue to stand up for our rights under the Constitution and support equal rights for all.
I hope Don is ok today. Kudos to those women for taking that guy down! The trumpers are most definitely outnumbered now compared to the way it was a few years ago. They let their mouths overload their a**es, and will be handed their a**es! Enough is enough!
There was a great turnout at the Warrensburg No Kings rally yesterday afternoon. An enthusiastic crowd was deep around the Bandstand intersection and up and down Route 9 with posters, flags and chants! And there was much honking and thumbs up from the passing traffic!
Thank you for this additional update to all your reflections and photos yesterday. Wish it could have a wider distribution, as Rachel Maddow’s Monday night MSNBC broadcast always includes smaller town stories like this. But I can appreciate Don Lehman’s desire for less exposure after enduring yesterday’s assault.
Power To The People! And praise for the 2 women who jumped the cowardly creep trying to escape!
Good Morning Ken, Welcome home...glad you're back from all your "travels"! Where do I begin? Let's take the issue of paying for our news. You're right conservatives have been blasting newspapers for years...however, the newspapers themselves have been making big errors. The printed copy is definitely getting too expensive to print and distribute. This leaves us with the digital product...Sorry to say, the smaller papers do not take advantage of local talent to produce an easy to ready digital product. Also, the format of all forms of newspapers is "Ad supported"...where are the local salespeople out there making the case for the paper, printed or digital. Yes, consolidation of small papers has raised havoc with this model, however, it's not beyond the scope of entrepreneurs to jump in and change this. Just look at our own Glens Falls Chronicle. Love him or hate him, the publisher has created an ad based paper that serves the needs of the Glens Falls Area residents, and provides the income he needs. I get the digital version and it's excellent. So, this conundrum isn't easily answered, but criticizIng readers for refusing to pay the exhorbitant prices is unfair. Internet has a monopoly and we can't change that YET.. As for CABLE TV and Streaming...look at what the customer is getting, hundreds of channels with diverse programming...and even CABLE is losing customers big time.!!! Even Streaming channels have put in "Ad-based" models to keep the cost down for the end user. When all is said and done, there is no simple answer..I don't think criticizing the medium helps anything...AND, you KNOW, I'm a paid subscriber to your column, and I totally support what you're doing. Happy Father's Day!
Mary Ellen, Certainly didn't feel like I was scolding those who do not subscribe. People will pay for what they believe is important and the failure to support local newspapers means they do not want to spend their resources there. You are right about the mistakes made among the corporate ownership - and there are many more - but the local newspapers still do some good work. I wish they did more or were more aggressive, but I am from another era. You can get a subscription to the T-U - they still turn out an excellent produce - for $20 a month. Cable is over $200. It is a matter of priorities. As my book - The Last American Newspaper - addresses, we had a great community newspaper here in Glens Falls and I believe it was taken for granted. Now that product is diminished and folks wonder what happened. It is complicated by the rise of digital and social media, but I do think those efforts were taken for granted.
I think people may come back around to real news, at least the intelligent ones who get tired of AI generated memes and opinionated pundits and blowhards. News organizations need to figure out how put their product out there and how to earn a living while doing it. I believe there’s got to be a way. If you lead the horse to water, you can’t MAKE him drink, but eventually he’ll be thirsty enough to seek it out and stave off dehydration!
Heavens no! I was just thinking about the memes on social media that pass as news for some folk. Eventually you would think some would tire of being ignorant and look for a real source. At least, so I hope. I heard a guy on a podcast talking about the strikes on Iran actually say “This video I’m showing was verified by the person who took it and sent it.” I said to myself he’s either trying to SELL the Brooklyn Bridge, or I should try selling it to HIM!
So proud to be a North Country girl! Thank you Ken, Will, Indivisible, The Light Brigade, Don Lehman and the women who defended him, and all the Glens Falls neighbors who are taking back our country!
The NO Kings event in Plattsburgh, was at the last moment, "officially" canceled via the Mobilize website.
However, when I went downtown to Trinity Park around 1 pm, there was a raucous crowd of maybe 50-60 people there, holding Flags and signs, with more people streaming down to join them. Those driving by were honking their horns and cheering us on.
This gathering made me the most optimistic I've felt in awhile.
Thx for your great coverage of this
https://x.com/poststar/status/1934056022890467566?s=46&t=_0D03fdgGLP3DKRFd2lnxA I couldn’t read the full article because I am disinclined to support this rag with a subscription, but. . .
Community journalism is essential for our democracy. Even in a diminished capacity it is important. Please support it in any way you can.
I agree. But it has to be priced accordingly. $25 a month for what it provides - 3-4 local journalist written articles three times a week - is not priced accordingly. Not even close.
You will find no bigger support of local journalism than myself. I was a PS paperboy as a kid. I willingly pay for The Times Union, Lake George Mirror, Adirondack Life, Adirondack Explorer and NCPR. I usually buy local newspapers when I travel around the northeast. But those are priced appropriate for the content they provide.
Supporters of community journalism cannot exist in a theoretical vacuum. To survive, consumers have to feel like they are coming something vaguely close to getting what they pay for if you want them to keep paying for it. The leaderless, corporate-emasculated Post-Star is a long way from that. I respect what their journalists are trying to do but the system they operate in is not set up for their success.
Frankly, I get at least as much consequential local news from the Times-Union and WNYT than I do from the Post-Star. That would've been an absurd notion a few years ago before Lee emasculated it.
I can't argue with your points.
Generic wire service crap was a waste of space when it was a daily, but even more so as a 3x a week paper. Take the money they're spending on the AP and Dear Abby and spend it all on local reporters so they provide 10-15 articles an issue instead of 2-3. THAT would be closer to worth $25/mo. It may have been different when you started in the business. But in 2025, no one reads the Post-Star to find out the Yankees score from 4 days ago. They want to know about what is happening locally. The other stuff they can get elsewhere. But Lee is too clueless to get out of the death spiral.
The AP is expensive, but I suspect if they canceled it, they would put it toward paying down their debt.
Sadly, you're probably right. In business, you either evolve or die. Lee is opting for the latter.
We may have reached a “tipping point” as some academics have posited. We certainly have awakened many citizens who believe in democracy.
I want to shout out our tiny little free newspaper up here in St. Lawrence County, the North Country This Week. They've been on top of all the rallies, posting the stories on their website almost immediately. I'm so grateful for them! https://northcountrynow.com/stories/hundreds-of-protestors-chant-no-kings-at-downtown-rally-in-canton,306351
800 maybe. John Casserly stood and counted as people walked by and he counted 700 that walked past him. Quite a turn out.
Yes, I think Mark was referring to the article about the Canton rally, which had a count of 600.
Thanks for pointing out, I neglected to follow the string correctly.
I would think that counting the folks in Glens Falls would be more difficult that what John Casserly did in Canton. What he didn't count was the folks that came to Main St/Rt 11 from other directions. So, his 700 count total was short, perhaps by 100.
The enthusiasm and any crowd approaching 800 is a lot in St. Lawrence County and Canton wasn't the only SLC Town where a "No King" march happened.
Thanks for all that you do to keep us informed from the other side of the NY21.
I thought it looked like more than 600. Reminded me of the first big BLM rally in Potsdam in 2020! I was disappointed it happened to be the same day as Pride, which I had already committed to. I was so glad to see the videos NCN had posted.
I have seen some of the work they do and it is important.
There were about 800 people that showed up to demonstrate in Canton, NY.
I wonder if anyone could put together a list of towns and villages where there were "No KIngs" demonstrations along with the estimated number of attendees across the NY 21st.
Yes, democracy is still alive, even in conservative Upstate NY! I went to the Indivisible ADK/Saratoga protest, and there was a great turnout. It’s so encouraging, and we must continue to stand up for our rights under the Constitution and support equal rights for all.
I hope Don is ok today. Kudos to those women for taking that guy down! The trumpers are most definitely outnumbered now compared to the way it was a few years ago. They let their mouths overload their a**es, and will be handed their a**es! Enough is enough!
Don is fine.
Please let me know if I am paid up. I want to be, but don't remember how recently I contributed.
I need your email. Send me an email at tingleykenneth4@gmail.com and I will check.
Thank you for your thorough description of yesterday!
There was a great turnout at the Warrensburg No Kings rally yesterday afternoon. An enthusiastic crowd was deep around the Bandstand intersection and up and down Route 9 with posters, flags and chants! And there was much honking and thumbs up from the passing traffic!
That turnout in Warrensburg may be even more impressive considering the deep red nature of the politics there.
Thank you for this additional update to all your reflections and photos yesterday. Wish it could have a wider distribution, as Rachel Maddow’s Monday night MSNBC broadcast always includes smaller town stories like this. But I can appreciate Don Lehman’s desire for less exposure after enduring yesterday’s assault.
Power To The People! And praise for the 2 women who jumped the cowardly creep trying to escape!
It was a wonderful experience!
Good Morning Ken, Welcome home...glad you're back from all your "travels"! Where do I begin? Let's take the issue of paying for our news. You're right conservatives have been blasting newspapers for years...however, the newspapers themselves have been making big errors. The printed copy is definitely getting too expensive to print and distribute. This leaves us with the digital product...Sorry to say, the smaller papers do not take advantage of local talent to produce an easy to ready digital product. Also, the format of all forms of newspapers is "Ad supported"...where are the local salespeople out there making the case for the paper, printed or digital. Yes, consolidation of small papers has raised havoc with this model, however, it's not beyond the scope of entrepreneurs to jump in and change this. Just look at our own Glens Falls Chronicle. Love him or hate him, the publisher has created an ad based paper that serves the needs of the Glens Falls Area residents, and provides the income he needs. I get the digital version and it's excellent. So, this conundrum isn't easily answered, but criticizIng readers for refusing to pay the exhorbitant prices is unfair. Internet has a monopoly and we can't change that YET.. As for CABLE TV and Streaming...look at what the customer is getting, hundreds of channels with diverse programming...and even CABLE is losing customers big time.!!! Even Streaming channels have put in "Ad-based" models to keep the cost down for the end user. When all is said and done, there is no simple answer..I don't think criticizing the medium helps anything...AND, you KNOW, I'm a paid subscriber to your column, and I totally support what you're doing. Happy Father's Day!
Mary Ellen, Certainly didn't feel like I was scolding those who do not subscribe. People will pay for what they believe is important and the failure to support local newspapers means they do not want to spend their resources there. You are right about the mistakes made among the corporate ownership - and there are many more - but the local newspapers still do some good work. I wish they did more or were more aggressive, but I am from another era. You can get a subscription to the T-U - they still turn out an excellent produce - for $20 a month. Cable is over $200. It is a matter of priorities. As my book - The Last American Newspaper - addresses, we had a great community newspaper here in Glens Falls and I believe it was taken for granted. Now that product is diminished and folks wonder what happened. It is complicated by the rise of digital and social media, but I do think those efforts were taken for granted.
I think people may come back around to real news, at least the intelligent ones who get tired of AI generated memes and opinionated pundits and blowhards. News organizations need to figure out how put their product out there and how to earn a living while doing it. I believe there’s got to be a way. If you lead the horse to water, you can’t MAKE him drink, but eventually he’ll be thirsty enough to seek it out and stave off dehydration!
Oh my, I don't even want to think about local papers trying to use AI.
Heavens no! I was just thinking about the memes on social media that pass as news for some folk. Eventually you would think some would tire of being ignorant and look for a real source. At least, so I hope. I heard a guy on a podcast talking about the strikes on Iran actually say “This video I’m showing was verified by the person who took it and sent it.” I said to myself he’s either trying to SELL the Brooklyn Bridge, or I should try selling it to HIM!
So proud to be a North Country girl! Thank you Ken, Will, Indivisible, The Light Brigade, Don Lehman and the women who defended him, and all the Glens Falls neighbors who are taking back our country!
Good to see that massive turnout in Glen Falls.
The NO Kings event in Plattsburgh, was at the last moment, "officially" canceled via the Mobilize website.
However, when I went downtown to Trinity Park around 1 pm, there was a raucous crowd of maybe 50-60 people there, holding Flags and signs, with more people streaming down to join them. Those driving by were honking their horns and cheering us on.
This gathering made me the most optimistic I've felt in awhile.
Do you know why it was canceled?
Nope. No reason given. Just received notification that it was.
What surprised me most was the turnout in Warrensburg. Some of us were concerned about it because it is DEFINITELY trump country there!
I could not believe my eyes when I saw all the people there ! That really inspired me.
I agree. I thought that location had the most potential for trouble.