Jackson County Advocate Posts Goodbye

Tonight we share an important note that marks the end of an era in local community news publishing and one more reminder of changing times amid the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Last word . . .

Jackson County Advocate: A Final Farewell

Money line that offers an honest & brutal view of the local publishing business: 

For nearly 68 years, the Advocate has served as a staple in the Grandview and South Kansas City communities. James Turnbaugh began a record of history all those years ago; a legacy that has continued on well past his time with us, and, we hope, for a long time to come. To the Turnbaugh family, the Wood family, and all of those who came before us, we are grateful to have had the opportunity to continue the story.

But, as stories go, they must all eventually come to an end. Unfortunately, this is the end of the Advocate’s story. This is the age of the internet, and of “fake news” and online advertising. While we feel that we offered a product which served the best interests of our readers, the community no longer supported us in a way that made this business remain successful.

Add COVID-19 into the mix, and you have a recipe for disaster, as far as small businesses go. People are no longer stopping in to place an ad in the classifieds. New subscribers have been few and far between. Homes associations, which used to be this publication’s bread and butter, have steadily declined in memberships or have folded altogether. Companies large and small are spending their advertising dollars online instead of locally.

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And so we thank the Jackson County Advocate for it's service to the community as this brutal year draws to its inevitable conclusion. 

Developing . . .