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Quantity of Information <br /> <br />The quantity of information would be significantly lower in the newspaper so people <br />would have to read through less information to locate items of concern or interest. <br /> <br />Currently, a two-page summary of the City budget and the multi-page Annual Report are <br />printed in the newsletter. If they were excluded from the newspaper to save printing <br />costs, citizens would need to make a special effort to request those documents in person <br />or by phone. Additional postage and staff time would be required to respond. <br /> <br />Also, groups that depend on the newsletter to publicize their availability and activities <br />would have to find other means of getting out their messages. <br /> <br />Quality <br /> <br />The paper quality of the newsletter is better than that of the newspaper: heavier paper <br />and colored ink versus newsprint. Comparing the quality of the overall publication is <br />more difficult and subjective. <br /> <br />Impact on Staff Time <br /> <br />The amount of staff time required would be less with the newspaper option because <br />information would be submitted to the publisher on diskette. If there are fewer articles, <br />there would be less typing of articles. There would be no employee time spent on layout, <br />transporting copies from the printer or delivering to the post office. <br /> <br />Other Considerations <br /> <br />One advantage the newsletter has over the newspaper is that it has a more specific <br />community identity. People know exactly what it is when they receive it. They may not <br />take time to read a publication that has "Andover" as the first word in the title. A <br />community newsletter probably has more potential to promote solidarity. <br /> <br />Also, the City loses a promotional tool to distribute to prospective home owners, <br />businesses and employees. <br /> <br />Another advantage of a community newsletter is that the City has total control over what <br />appears in the entire publication. The City would only control the pages it pays for in a <br />newspaper. <br /> <br />Finally, the Anover, Anoka, Ramsey Times has been in operation for only four years and <br />has had significant staff turnover. If the paper goes out of business in the future, the City <br />would have to resume printing its own newsletter. <br /> <br /> <br />