Yankee Brew News Archive

There's no such thing as a free lunch...

Originally Published: 07/95

There's no such thing as a free lunch...

I'll bet you've heard that one a few times in your life. The ultimate truth of this enduring cliche is borne out by its endless repetition. Free this, free that, and so it goes. Of course, the smart consumer knows that this is nonsense. There is always a hidden price or cost.

Back when I started Yankee Brew News, the costs of running a newspaper were negligible. Simply put, you paid for layout, reporters, printing and distribution. What was left over, which wasn't very much in the early days, was pocketed as an incentive to continue this mad enterprise of running a beeriodical.

Up until recently, this newspaper was a freebie. For six years, we never charged a nickel to bring you unprecedented coverage of our New England brewing scene. Our reporters continue to travel the world, from the shores of Lake Champlain to the craggy Maine Coast.

Things have changed since that time. Paper costs alone are up 50% over last year, with increases promised for later this year. The reporting staff of this paper has increased from one (me) to over nine. Our circulation and distribution costs have gone up as we added more and more distribution sites. While other beer newspapers have cut sweetheart deals with beer distributors to distribute their newspapers, we handle all of our distribution in-house. Why? Because we want to make absolutely sure that every issue that rolls off the press gets into the hands of a New England beer lover. After all, what good are newspapers if they doesn't get read by their audience?

At 50 cents an issue this isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. The cover price is designed to cover the costs of printing and distribution. An additional benefit of the cover price to our rural audience will be the addition of even more distribution sites, perhaps closer to your home. As an added bonus, many distributors have agreed to continue offering complimentary copies of Yankee Brew News to their customers.

Most of my fellow Yankees will accept this explanation without question. For the cynics among you, I offer my word. If any reader believes that they did not get their money's worth in spending 50 cents for my newspaper, tear out this article and send it to me for a full refund. No questions asked.

Cheers!

Don Gosselin