Newspapers like The Dickinson Press have been using the United States Postal Service for deliveries for a few years now.
It was pitched as a reliable and cost-effective option, and many publishing companies across the country sought to stay afloat by relying on the vast network of delivery routes and infrastructure to get newspapers to their subscribers, especially in remote or rural areas like southwest North Dakota. It was an attractive option for newspapers looking to keep their costs down and their focus on reporting the news and views that matter to their readers.
But, in the last few years there has been a remarkable change in the types of phone calls that come into the newsroom. Where once a phone ringing brought hopes of a source of information on a breaking story, now brings only a deep pit in the stomach.