Part 3 of Postseason Coverage is Here
And there is still more to come later this month
We’re getting towards the end of the school year and I continue to bring you the most in-depth high school sports coverage you’re going to find. When I am out covering events, athletes and adults from schools other than Scarsdale & Edgemont ask where they can see my work and are disappointed to learn that I’m not there to cover them. Communities crave this kind of attention and coverage. And I bet they’d be willing to pay a premium to get it. It makes me wonder why for the reasonable price of $100 per calendar year I am struggling. There are still fewer than 200 paid subscribers and I am struggling to get advertisers and sponsors for something that 1,500 people at a minimum are viewing each week. Between current residents and alumni, I should be more than meeting my expected goal of 500 paid subscribers per year. Are people satisfied with a social media post that tells them the score and has an image that usually isn’t great? Are we past the point of wanting a full story and dozens of quality photos? And being willing to pay for that for athletes to be able to celebrate themselves? To have a keepsake they can look back on for years to come?
Perhaps the big question is this: Am I wasting my time on something that doesn’t have the demand it should?
From September to June I am sacrificing by working 6-7 days a week, sometimes 14 hours a day. I am willing to do it, but I have to be able to make a living doing it. There are so many expenses and duties to running a business that sadly take away from my time and my salary. The summer will be another long reflection on whether or not I pack it up after the fall and poof… in 2026 there’s nothing.
I just want to be upfront with everyone so there are no surprises. I’d love to be able to do this long-term and invest in even better photography equipment, but if I can’t pay my personal and business bills, provide a comfortable life for my family and prepare for my retirement—I’m 48 and have nothing to show for my 25 years at The Scarsdale Inquirer—then I will take the appropriate steps.
So please get a paid subscription (and convince others to do so), take out a graduation ad, take out an ad, become a sponsor, get a group to make a donation, etc.
Well, it’s back to work for me as I’m going to get on the next issue which will have New York State Championships coverage.
Happy reading and enjoy the weekend,
—todd
