Regional district looks to cut newspaper advertising costs in Okanagan-Similkameen

PENTICTON – After spending nearly $60,000 on advertising in newspapers last year the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is hoping to reduce advertising costs going forward.

Staff requested quotes from the region's print newspapers in late September. The hope is to reduce annual advertising costs from last year’s level of between $57,000 and $60,000 by placing bi-weekly ads in newspapers with the best reach for regional district residents, at the best price.

Statutory advertising is a requirement for some of  the regional district’s news items. The most recent regional district telephone survey revealed approximately 64 per cent of it’s residents learned about local government through the newspaper, although Osoyoos Director Sue Mckortoff says that might be changing.

“Our local papers are widely read,” she told the board, adding, “I’m sure that’s changing with the younger generation."

The quotes revealed newspaper pricing ranging from $4,550 to $7,235.80 annually for 26 quarter-page ads.

Regional departments would not be restricted solely to using the contracted ads. If necessary, departments in the regional district would still be able to advertise in more local newspapers if the need arose. The bi-weekly ads could contain a mix of corporate and service specific information that would be billed back to each department or service accordingly.

Manager of Legislative Services Christy Malden says contracts would be valid for one year, which provides time to give the regional district an opportunity to measure the performance of the initiative through a new citizen survey, as well as to assess any potential budget savings.

Currently the City of Penticton uses the Penticton Western newspaper as its primary advertising venue.

The regional district’s Corporate Services Committee suggests the board award of the 2016 bi-weekly advertisement to the Penticton Herald in an amount not to exceed $4,800, and to the Similkameen News Leader for an amount not in excess of $4,600, plus applicable taxes.

The matter will come before the board for approval at a subsequent meeting.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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