EDITORIAL: 66 years: the commitment endures (10/03/99)

EDITORIAL

66 years: the commitment endures

As The Ukrainian Weekly observes its last anniversary in this millennium, we could dwell on all this paper has done in the past to promote the Ukrainian cause and to keep our community informed and in touch. But, our thoughts of illustrious achievements are clouded by ruminations about the future of The Ukrainian Weekly.

Will this Ukrainian American community newspaper - widely considered one of the best ethnic newspapers in this country - flourish as it serves succeeding generations of Ukrainian Americans and Ukrainian Canadians? Or will it even exist?

That question is a pertinent one today as this newspaper faces serious budgetary difficulties - so serious that in the past 20 months our publisher has cut two full-time editorial staffers and we have been forced to adopt other money-saving measures.

Why the financial difficulties? The answer is both simple and complex.

For the time being, let us provide the simple answer. The Ukrainian Weekly does not have enough income to cover its expenses. The reason is that the number of our subscribers has declined to about 7,100 - down from its peak at 10,500 in 1994. The precipitous drop began in 1995, in the aftermath of the UNA's decision to double the price of an annual subscription to The Weekly. In the first year alone, after this decision, we lost 1,500 subscribers. We've never recouped from that significant loss - though we've tried repeatedly to lure back our readers.

In addition, The Weekly has not enjoyed significant support on the part of advertisers, and, as anyone in the newspaper business will tell you, advertising is what makes newspapers profitable. (If subscribers were to foot the entire bill for any newspaper, the cost of a subscription would be substantial, even prohibitive.)

To top it all off, in accordance with the budget adopted by the Ukrainian National Association's convention in May 1998, the UNA will now provide only $50,000 per year as a subsidy to each of its two "official publications." The reason for this severe cutback in subsidies, which previously had been severalfold higher, is that insurance authorities and auditors are telling the UNA it simply does not have enough income from its insurance operations to bear the cost of its fraternal activities at the level heretofore possible. (In 1998 the cost of various fraternal activities, including two newspapers, the Soyuzivka resort, scholarships and other benefits, was $1.6 million.)

That, Dear Readers, is the situation faced by The Ukrainian Weekly as it marks the 66th anniversary of its founding. So, while we wish we could truly celebrate this anniversary of the glorious day, October 6, 1933, when The Ukrainian Weekly first rolled off the presses, instead we write these words in trepidation.

Does the Ukrainian community want or need The Ukrainian Weekly? Our loyal readers, many of whom responded to our 1998 questionnaire appear to think so. But what about the rest of the community? Does the community need The Ukrainian Weekly to survive, to prosper?

The ultimate determinant of The Weekly's future is those members of the Ukrainian community who are its readers. As long as our readers, and by extension the community, need The Weekly to serve them, we pledge to be there - provided there is mutual support. And, though our current financial situation is unsatisfactory, The Ukrainian Weekly's commitment to our community, to its own founding principles and those of the Ukrainian National Association - of service to its community and its nation - has not wavered. Of that you can be sure.

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