Superior Chronicle to Cease Operations

IRONWOOD, MI - Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - Superior Chronicle Editor/Publisher Jim Albert announced today that the online news service will be closing operations as of April 1, 2010.

"It is with much sadness that I announce today that the Superior Chronicle will be ceasing operations effective April 1, 2010." Albert announced. "For the past two years, this service has been basically a one-man-show, and to make a long story short, it has grown to be too much for me to handle."

The Chronicle began operations on December 15, 2007. The first article featured was an introduction to the website by Albert.

He wrote in that introduction,

"This Internet-based news service has been an idea I've been kicking around for several years. I wanted to create a site that would keep people up-to-date on things that are happening in and around the Ironwood area.

Recent surveys reveal that 73% of all Americans use the Internet as their primary news source. Many traditional 'ink and pulp' newspapers have already seen the writing on the wall, and they have established 'web versions' of their journals. Some major players in the print media - such as the New York Times - have abandoned their published version of the news and have gone completely to computer-based presentations of their product.

The computer brings the news alive. Printed newspapers are often confining. Space is generally limited. Costs control the content! How many times have you read an article in the paper wishing you had more information? Instead of just reading about a City Commission meeting, for example, with the Internet, you can watch or listen to the entire meeting yourself - at your leisure. The Internet gives the end user options that the print media, television and radio cannot offer.

Sharp, crisp, full-color photos; streaming video on command; audio files and sound-bites of people and events in the news at the touch of a button; automatic archiving of all articles; instant access to the news as you want it, when you want it; are all features that the Internet provides. No other media can come close to the options an Internet-based news service can offer.

Advertisers aren't limited to small, lifeless, colorless, and expensive column-width ads. Instead of a tiny little black and white ad that can barely fit the advertisers name on it, our advertisers are given the option of full-color sidebars and banner ads. Each of the banners and sidebars are "hyperlinked" to the advertiser's own website or to web-pages we create for them. These web pages are in full-color; they are clean and crisp; they are easily updated; and they can feature video, audio, and access to everything the Internet offers. And all of this is available at a fraction of the cost of traditional print media. Typically, Internet advertisers pay less for a month's worth of ads online then they would for one day's worth of print ads in a newspaper!

I urge you to routinely surf this site. Please keep in mind, that this is a work in progress. We will experience some growing pains in the beginning. I’m sure we’ll have some glitches. We aren’t perfect, and we aren’t pretending to be. We rely on our readers for content! If you have a story you would like to share with us; a photo you would like to have posted; a biography of a friend or loved one; or even a good old fashioned nostalgic moment you’d like to share, please feel free to send it to us! This is YOUR NEWS SERVICE! We aren’t here to serve the special interests of a select few. We are here to provide a service for the masses! Our news might not always be the most interesting news in the world, but you can be assured of one thing... if you read it here... it will be accurate and it will be true! We will not publish any story unless we have adequate information that can back-up any and all claims in that story! We won’t twist facts or play games either! We will print 'letters to the editor' we don’t necessarily agree with, as long as they conform to the basic accepted standards of decency. Obviously, we will not print letters that serve no other purpose than to attack others or that are libelous or insulting. Our goal with our 'letters' column is to give people a chance to express themselves on issues of importance to their lives. Everybody should have the right to be heard. But, keep in mind, with all rights come responsibilities! Your right to be heard does not give you the right to hurt others!

Ironwood has a rich history! One of our goals is to cherish and to preserve that history. In order for Ironwood to grow and prosper, we need to understand what brought us to where we are in the first place. This was once a City of 20,000 plus people. At one time Ironwood was the 'shopping capital' of the Western Upper Peninsula. People used to travel for miles to shop at our stores. How many of you remember Friday and Saturday nights downtown that were bumper-to-bumper traffic, and mobs of people were mulling around on the City sidewalks? Do you remember traffic cops at each intersection directing traffic?

I recently asked former City Commissioner Cliff Koivisto if he had any ideas for our Internet adventure. He said 'As usual, I have a few suggestions!' Many of his ideas echoed what we already were considering, but here are the ideas he presented to me: (1) a hunting and fishing section, (2) a gun collecting section, (3) snowmobiling reports, (4) radio/controlled airplane articles, (5) features about local miners of the past, (6) stories from local businesspeople, and (7) stories (bios) of local veterans highlighting their service to this country. We plan on incorporating most of this ideas into this online journal in the very near future.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again... I love this City. I love what Ironwood once was. I would love to see the City shine once again. It is my hope and dream that this website will help Ironwood to prosper and grow. I want to feature articles about local businesses, and the people that run them -- and people that work at them. I want to highlight local industry, and I’d like to pick the ears of the industrialists that make them work. It’s my goal to point out the 'small heroes' the 'everyday warriors' whose efforts keep Ironwood working and make it a better place. I want outsiders, looking in to see what a 'diamond in the rough' we have here. A community isn’t about the buildings, the businesses, or even the government. What makes a community is the PEOPLE. And Ironwood has some of the best people on earth! It is to those people that I dedicate this site! Enjoy!"

Albert said, "I think we did a good job of sticking to our initial mission. I am proud of the fact that we have provided a venue for people to voice their opinions. I can hold my head high that we always took the high ground and did our best to accurately report the news. I've always tried to be fair and honest, and I think our readers appreciated that approach."

"It's just too much for one person to handle. For the most part, I've been running the show completely by myself. Recently Keri Singleton came onboard and has relieved me of much of the writing, but the day to day operations is just too much for one man to handle. " Albert said.

In addition to operating the Chronicle Albert manages his rental properties; owns and operates the Knight Club Billiards and Arcade; is an ASL Sign Language interpreter for the deaf; is the director of Deaf Services of America; and has several local and out-of-town business interests.

"My health isn't the best and I've bitten off more than I can chew," Albert said, "I take care of my mother as well, and as time goes by that, too, is becoming a full-time job."

"I am very proud of what we've accomplished. I think our straight-forward reporting opened some eyes and affected the way people voted in the last election. Creating competition for the Globe was a healthy thing. I truly think they have become a better newspaper."

Albert told the Chronicle that he would like someone to take over operations in the near future. He said he has been in the process of hunting for a new management team.

"I hate to see the project end. I honestly feel it serves a need in the community. People stop and talk to me -- phone me -- and email me everyday, telling me how much they enjoy our site. I just can't do it anymore. I don't have it in me! Hopefully someone will step up to the plate at take over operations. In just over two years we have had nearly 20 million hits on our site. I know people are using it. With proper management, I know the project could be a financial success as well. To do the job right, however, it will take more than one person with a camera and a sound recorder. I truly believe the Chronicle can be a very lucrative business opportunity for a local entrepeneur." said Albert.

Albert told the Chronicle that the site will completely shut down in just of 200 days if nobody takes it over. He said interested parties can contact him at (906) 932-1810 or by email at deaf_services@sbcglobal.net.

"I would like to thank the many people behind the scenes who have helped me with story ideas, news tips, and photos. I'd also like to thank our advertisers and those people who have supported our efforts from the very get go. And finally, I'd like to thank our loyal readers for visiting our site so faithfully. I wish you all well." Albert said in a closing statement.