I have been a reader of the Daily Herald for over 34 years. I am an avid consumer of news, and have watched with great dismay as such a crucial service as real journalism withers on the vine. As an attorney, I had many conversations with former staffers Jim Haley and Scott North at the courthouse, and remember both with respect and warmth.

I get it. The internet, lack of advertising, costs of materials, and many other factors have worked to conspire against good journalism in a most pernicious manner. The notion that one can get sufficient news on social media likely explains why we have so much rancor and misinformation in our lives these days. All I can do is support legitimate journalism, or at least as long as I am getting that for which I pay.

Sadly, The Herald’s journey will have to continue without me and my wife when our next renewal comes. The service was already pretty spotty when we had delivery in person. However, calling your paper the “Daily” Herald is bordering on farce at this point. We get five actual papers in a good week, a day after the Seattle Times, and the second section of the Herald is often a repeat of what we already get in the Times the preceding day. The net effect, at best, is that we get four to five half-papers a week.

I’m sorry, but without a corresponding drop in costs, I’m out. My appreciation for your work and my altruism only goes so far.

Tom Pacher

Whidbey Island