The Newport Plain Talk announces it will return totri-weekly publication with its first Thursday edition on April 2, 2009.

Since 1999, the newspaper has been a five-day dailynewspaper, but a changing economy requires the publishing company to reduce itsschedule. The new publication days will be Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

"Many businesses are having to adapt to a neweconomic climate, and this is the best way for the newspaper to serve all ourcustomers and remain a strong business, too," said Plain TalkCo-Publisher/Editor David Popiel.

"We enjoy a growing circulation thanks to yoursupport and served you well as a daily newspaper. We will continue to offer youinformation and advertising that no one else does," he said.

The Plain Talk is accustomed to the tri-weekly cyclehaving been one of the largest tri-weeklies in Tenn. for almost 30 years from1970-1999. "And, we expect our circulation will grow larger in years tocome," said Popiel. "As a tri-weekly in the late 1990s ourcirculation averaged about 8,500."

Many advertisers asked us to keep the popular and premiumSunday edition as the best day for them to advertise. It has the largestcirculation, exceeding average paid of 7,200 and the most single copy sales ofany weekday. Our Sunday distribution includes the free "News &Review" so that total Sunday circulation is about 12,500.

"We plan to make the Sunday edition even better withthe addition of more features and news. Readers have asked for more nationalviewpoint columns," said Popiel.

Most businesses favored Tuesday and Thursday during theweek, and these days seemed to be evenly spaced enough to keep our readers wellinformed. On the days the newspaper does not publish the Plain Talk can postimportant news, photos, and advertising messages on its Website,newportplaintalk.com to keep readers informed all the time.

Current pre-paid subscriptions will be extended toaccount for the change in frequency, giving subscribers more time before expirations.The other good news for subscribers is the rate schedules will be much lower.

"Our lowest monthly rate as a tri-weekly will be theEZ-Pay monthly rate of $6. This will be more affordable to subscribers andappeal to those on a budget, just as we are," he said.

As a tri-weekly, the content will be more focused onlocal news and sports with the addition of state and national news. Thenewspaper will have additional sections and special editions to bringadvertising and a wide variety of news to our readers.

You are welcome to contact us to give us your comments onthese changes and any ideas you may have to improve the newspaper. For e-mailresponse, send to info@newportplaintalk.com or call the office at 423-623-6171.