Thanks to loyal readers, your Trib starts phased return to 2 editions

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Tribune-­Review will return to being published in two editions — Westmoreland and Valley News Dispatch.

With high school sports in action, our comprehensive coverage simply can’t fit in the single edition that arose with the pandemic’s onset. Look also for new features along with the return of favorites, and more local coverage targeted to your community.

This move, for three days a week, is tied to high school sports, which we hope will stay safe and viable. Like every business, we react and adapt to the realities forced by this coronavirus. We remain grateful to you, our loyal readers, for sticking with the Trib though the challenges of the pandemic economy.

The Trib is unusual among American daily newspapers. We’re not part of a national chain; our business is 100% local, rooted in the economy of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Among our bedrock goals is keeping prices relatively low in order to reach more readers. Subscription revenue, you might be surprised to know, covers only 25% of the cost of producing and delivering the paper.

Advertising is the main source of income for Trib Total Media. Throughout the turbulence of the pandemic, the company has endured revenue declines from 30% to as high as 80%. We are not unique in facing such losses.

But to meet that reality head-on, we made strategic decisions to reduce expenses and preserve resources. Temporarily merging the two print editions was part of the necessary cost-­cutting.

As a business, our chief goal is safeguarding the company for long-term success.

Our primary mission is to serve Southwestern Pennsylvania with the best in local journalism, contributing to the local economy with continued growth. The advertisers you see in our pages are valued partners in this enterprise. Please support them by patronizing their businesses, as they help to keep the Trib accessible throughout the region.

On behalf of the staff of Trib Total Media, I thank you for being a Trib reader. We look forward to being part of your daily life for years to come.