News readers continue to change and evolve, and the Sun News must adapt to the times
.jpg "This bronze sculpture at Brookgreen Gardens is called “Len Ganeway” and was created in 1980 by Derek Webber. The artistic work symbolized a reader or a rural newspaper in 1980.")
“The only constant is change” is commonly attributed to Heraclitus, an ancient Greek philosopher.
We are going through another change. We will transition to a 24/7 digital product and modify our print delivery to two days a week.
Starting Aug. 12, the Sun News newspaper will be delivered on Wednesdays and Sundays. The US Postal Service will put the paper in your mailbox, which means the Sunday edition will arrive on Saturdays.
Our electronic edition, available on MyrtleBeachOnline.com, will also be upgraded in the upcoming weeks to better serve our digital readers. We recently launched a new calendar function on our website. Please add your local events to the calendar.
We will hold two events for readers on Wednesday, June 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, June 27, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the HTC Aspire Hub at 509 9th Ave N. in downtown Myrtle Beach. Please RSVP on our website and join us to meet the staff and learn more about our digital changes.
Change we understand, can be scary and uncomfortable, but it is not new and is usually how growth happens. For example, here’s a description of what a typical newspaper reader might have looked like more than 40 years ago.
“When commissioned to create a sculpture that symbolized the readers of a county newspaper in rural Michigan, Derek Wernher decided that a farmer sitting on a park bench reading the paper would be a perfect choice. The title of the sculpture is the pen name of the newspaper’s editor. Wernher cast the sculpture in a small foundry set up in his studio. Only one other casting exists.”
Derek Webber created the bronze sculpture on display at Brookgreen Gardens, “Len Ganeway,” in 1980.
The average reader of local journalism today is a 45- to 65-year-old with an education, a job, and children or grandchildren. They can sit or work in a coffee shop while reading a story on their smartphone or tablet.
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The Internet has changed how readers consume news and how we create and distribute local journalism. We are reaching a larger audience than ever before and have more timely information on our digital platforms.
For the latest news, continue to check our website, myrtlebeachonline.com, our eEdition, our social channels and our app.
We know that change can be difficult. Please stand by us as we evolve and support us in delivering the best local journalism possible. Please continue sending us your story ideas, suggestions, and stories that make Myrtle Beach unique and a place we all love to live.
I invite our customers and readers to join us in focusing on the local stories that make a difference. So far this year, we have worked and fought to bring stories about the anonymous Coastal Carolina University donor and the ongoing saga, Reality Checks about false claims of illegal immigrants being bussed to Myrtle Beach, keeping stories about our beaches and local traffic conditions in the spotlight, and holding public officials accountable.
In the coming days, subscribers will receive correspondence from our customer service team regarding next steps. That team can be reached at 866-780-0786.
I welcome your feedback and questions at csegal@thesunnews.com. You may also catch me this Summer volunteering at Brookgreen Gardens.
If you want to see more sculptures from Brookgreen Gardens, check out our award-winning photos by visual journalist Jason Lee.
Thank you for being a loyal subscriber and reader. Let’s continue to work together to make Myrtle Beach the best place to live in South Carolina.
Chris Segal is the senior editor.
This story was originally published June 7, 2024 at 6:00 AM.