The Daily Sun: A Real Paper?

[Cedwards38]

There was an interesting thread in The Villages, Florida Facebook page yesterday regarding the tragic attacks in Paris and the coverage it received in The Daily Sun. The Daily Sun's Sunday edition contained a front page article on beer and wine making and followed that with numerous pages inside the front section about that topic. There was a small blurb on Paris on the front page and little coverage of the incident inside.

On one side of the discussion, posters were appalled at the Sun's decision to provide such little coverage to a brutal attack upon an ally nation, yet they spent many pages dedicated to beer making in The Villages. Most thought the beer making articles were interesting, but totally inappropriate on the day after Paris. Many thought that Paris should have been the banner headline and receive much coverage.

On the other side, posters argued that The Daily Sun is "not a real newspaper" and is fully within it's mission to provide us with the sunny side of The Villages life with only a small coverage of international news, including the Paris attack. Some seemed to feel that we should "chill out and enjoy our retirement" without worry about an international crisis or the editorial policy of The Daily Sun.

That raises an interesting question in my mind. I am one who believes that the Daily Sun missed the boat on their Paris coverage, and I would rather see a local paper that is actually a real newspaper providing us with detailed news from not only local but state, national, and international issues. Yes, I know that there are other options for newspapers and news sources that provide more detail, and I do subscribe to the Orlando Sentinel, watch CNN, and follow issues on various internet sites, but I'm curious about how you feel about our hometown Daily Sun.

(1) Is The Daily Sun a real newspaper with the obligation to provide us with in depth coverage of local, state, national, and international issues?

(2) Is The Daily Sun not a real newspaper with the mission of only providing us with information about The Villages and no responsibility to provide readers with detailed news from outside the bubble?

I acknowledge that both positions are legitimate if that is their stated mission, but what do you think?

[jblum315]

Not a real. Newspaper it is an advertising medium for the developer

[Chatbrat]

Everyone knows its a self serving feel gooder-to keep up the illusion of lala land.

[Villager Joyce]

Neither. It is a business run by individuals who decide what topics will be covered. People are not forced to buy or read the paper. Buy it if you wish. If you don't want to, don't. Newspapers are history lessons.

[spring_chicken]

It's the Daily Sunshine Pumper and that's fine with me. I don't get national news from any newspaper. I get it online or on TV much quicker. If the Sun were to have dedicated 2 pages to the event, it would have been 2 pages of regurgitated information that most already knew.

[villagetinker]

OP, I was not aware that other papers were delivered in TV, so about what time does it (Orlando Sentinel) arrive (I like to read paper with my breakfast), how must does it cost?
Yes, I agree with above comments, I have to watch television (CNN and Orlando stations) to know what is really going on, and use cell phone with push notifications for breaking news.

[Investment Painting Contractors]

OP, I was not aware that other papers were delivered in TV, so about what time does it (Orlando Sentinel) arrive (I like to read paper with my breakfast), how must does it cost?
Yes, I agree with above comments, I have to watch television (CNN and Orlando stations) to know what is really going on, and use cell phone with push notifications for breaking news.

I get the Sun and the Orlando Sentinel every day and the New York Times on Sundays only. They are all in my driveway when I wake up. I get my world news from The BBC they have less of an agenda than the American news outlets.

[Fred R]

It is much more of a news paper than this rag up here in Cincinnati called the Enquirer. Our hometown paper is literally 2/3 the size per page and carries much less hard news than our paper in TV. Besides, where to you get a daily paper for 18 cents a day. Not here in Cincinnati, that's for sure

[Taltarzac725]

Neither. It is a business run by individuals who decide what topics will be covered. People are not forced to buy or read the paper. Buy it if you wish. If you don't want to, don't. Newspapers are history lessons.

Agree. It is freedom of the press for those who can afford one. The developers own it or at least have a huge say in what goes in the Editorial decisions. Go to other news sources if you want wider coverage than the Villages. Frankly, I enjoy the departure from the "if it bleeds, it leads" policy found in many other papers and news sources.

The Villages Daily Sun also would not have access to any other stories on Paris unless they took a different approach like Villagers' memories of Paris, etc.

[Cedwards38]

OP, I was not aware that other papers were delivered in TV, so about what time does it (Orlando Sentinel) arrive (I like to read paper with my breakfast), how must does it cost?
Yes, I agree with above comments, I have to watch television (CNN and Orlando stations) to know what is really going on, and use cell phone with push notifications for breaking news.

The Sentinel is on my driveway before 7:00 AM. I get it on Sunday and Thursday only.
https://myaccount2.orlandosentinel.com/promotions.aspx?landing=redesign

[graciegirl]

There was an interesting thread in The Villages, Florida Facebook page yesterday regarding the tragic attacks in Paris and the coverage it received in The Daily Sun. The Daily Sun's Sunday edition contained a front page article on beer and wine making and followed that with numerous pages inside the front section about that topic. There was a small blurb on Paris on the front page and little coverage of the incident inside.

On one side of the discussion, posters were appalled at the Sun's decision to provide such little coverage to a brutal attack upon an ally nation, yet they spent many pages dedicated to beer making in The Villages. Most thought the beer making articles were interesting, but totally inappropriate on the day after Paris. Many thought that Paris should have been the banner headline and receive much coverage.

On the other side, posters argued that The Daily Sun is "not a real newspaper" and is fully within it's mission to provide us with the sunny side of The Villages life with only a small coverage of international news, including the Paris attack. Some seemed to feel that we should "chill out and enjoy our retirement" without worry about an international crisis or the editorial policy of The Daily Sun.

That raises an interesting question in my mind. I am one who believes that the Daily Sun missed the boat on their Paris coverage, and I would rather see a local paper that is actually a real newspaper providing us with detailed news from not only local but state, national, and international issues. Yes, I know that there are other options for newspapers and news sources that provide more detail, and I do subscribe to the Orlando Sentinel, watch CNN, and follow issues on various internet sites, but I'm curious about how you feel about our hometown Daily Sun.

(1) Is The Daily Sun a real newspaper with the obligation to provide us with in depth coverage of local, state, national, and international issues?

(2) Is The Daily Sun not a real newspaper with the mission of only providing us with information about The Villages and no responsibility to provide readers with detailed news from outside the bubble?

I acknowledge that both positions are legitimate if that is their stated mission, but what do you think?



The Daily Sun has been discussed ad nauseum if you hit search above, you will find almost as many threads about it as dog poop and roundabouts.


The Daily Sun was owned directly by the developer and then sold about four years ago to a good friend of the developer. The developer rents his business the building and the equipment.


The Daily Sun covers a lot of what is happening in The Villages but if someone gets arrested, it never names names, or shows pictures or gives addresses, well hardly ever. If someone commits suicide it isn't printed and the editorial slant is conservative and the views are pro developer. It is the preferred advertising vehicle for the sales of new and used homes by the Morses and it might as well be still owned by them. It feels the same as before it was bought by Phillip Markham(?) I may have his name wrong.


It does have news feeds, almost always on the second and third pages of world news from decent sources but most of us have smart phones, computers and availability to watch TV all day and night if we want to, so a once a day summary is often old news when the paper comes out.


I used to read it every day but found in the last couple of years that I don't. I am pretty aware of what is going on in The Villages, been to all the parades once or twice and the events that are pretty much the same, but fun and new to new folks...and after a while most of us have chosen the activities that we enjoy. My husband enjoys The Sun still and reads the sports page first with his coffee in the morning.


Paper journalism everywhere is getting much less used..I thought I
would never say that.

There is not a thing wrong with the Daily Sun. It is a good conservative paper much like Ohio people grew up with.

[bagboy]

With today's technology and multiple sources for news, sports, current events, etc, someone who cares to know what's going on anywhere already knows long before any print media informs them. With that being said, I'm fine with the Daily Sun being what it is. There has to be a little reprieve somewhere from the insanity... just my opinion.

[CFrance]

I read different newspapers for different reasons--all of them online. I would enjoy getting the Daily Sun for TV news purposes only (the editorial slant is not my cup of tea), but they have yet to enter the digital age and offer paid subscriptions online. I wouldn't read enough of the printed version to justify wasting all that paper, or having to store, wrap, and recycle it.

On the other hand, when something as horrific as war, mass murder, etc., happens, I turn to the television because it is live information (albeit some of it is mere speculation).

So I think the Daily Sun is fine for purposes of informing Villagers about TV, but I wouldn't rely on it for in-depth political or world news. And I do believe they have the right to emphasize what they want, just as we have the right to read it or not.

[Barefoot]

I wouldn't read enough of the printed version to justify wasting all that paper, or having to store, wrap, and recycle it.
Buffalo Ridge Vet Clinic does collect it on Mondays for use by The Humane Society.

[NYGUY]

I think it makes no difference whether it is a real newspaper or not. It is a business, and as such can publish its form of a paper. They are under no obligation to us. It is useful for local events information but I doubt you would get it for news. I understand that many of us, including me, are use to sitting down with a newspaper and our coffee. It's just that in our case, we have to find another source for news.

[Chi-Town]

I categorize the Daily Sun as an external house organ.

[Cedwards38]

The Daily Sun has been discussed ad nauseum if you hit search above, you will find almost as many threads about it as dog poop and roundabouts.


The Daily Sun was owned directly by the developer and then sold about four years ago to a good friend of the developer. The developer rents his business the building and the equipment.


The Daily Sun covers a lot of what is happening in The Villages but if someone gets arrested, it never names names, or shows pictures or gives addresses, well hardly ever. If someone commits suicide it isn't printed and the editorial slant is conservative and the views are pro developer. It is the preferred advertising vehicle for the sales of new and used homes by the Morses and it might as well be still owned by them. It feels the same as before it was bought by Phillip Markham(?) I may have his name wrong.


It does have news feeds, almost always on the second and third pages of world news from decent sources but most of us have smart phones, computers and availability to watch TV all day and night if we want to, so a once a day summary is often old news when the paper comes out.


I used to read it every day but found in the last couple of years that I don't. I am pretty aware of what is going on in The Villages, been to all the parades once or twice and the events that are pretty much the same, but fun and new to new folks...and after a while most of us have chosen the activities that we enjoy. My husband enjoys The Sun still and reads the sports page first with his coffee in the morning.


Paper journalism everywhere is getting much less used..I thought I
would never say that.

There is not a thing wrong with the Daily Sun. It is a good conservative paper much like Ohio people grew up with.

I've always depended on television, radio, and more recently the internet to give me breaking news, and a daily newspaper to give me the next morning details about that news. Now the electronic journalism is so deep and complete that I'm beginning to think that maybe I need to change my approach. The world evolves faster than my habits!

[rubicon]

We get the Daily Sun, Orlando Sentinel and Wall street Journal. The individual that contracted to deliver the Orlando Sentinel also delivers the Wall Street journal. the Wall Street journal has to be delivered by 7:00 AM. The previous contractor for the Orlando Sentinel had the Wall Street Journal to me by 4:00AM. I know because I sometime greeted her at the bottom of my driveway . The Sentinel has a new contractor and he often just makes the 7:00 AM deadline.

The Daily Sun and Orlando Sentinel are for my wife as it fits her needs. The Daily Sun during the week is in my driveway no later than 4:30 AM and often before that..... a little later on Saturday and Sundays

[Ragman]

I like the comics and the puzzles

Only newspaper in the South that has more Big Ten than SEC coverage in the sports section

:wave:

[Average Guy]

I like the comics and the puzzles

Only newspaper in the South that has more Big Ten than SEC coverage in the sports section

:wave:

Probably also the only newspaper in the South that has more subscribers who are Big Ten fans than SEC fans. :)

[graciegirl]

...

[billybye]

If it was a real paper it would probably cost real money. You get what you pay for.

[circletrack]

Don't want to get in the middle over this tired debate of whether the newspaper is a newspaper, but wanted to point out the Saturday's issue of the Sun had a big thing about the attacks. Did everyone here miss that?

It was right on the front page!

And coverage has continued in the days after, just not right out front.

Just confused as to why this is in question.

[simpkinp]

I agree. The attacks in Paris were well covered. I enjoy the paper and the info on local happenings, puzzles, comics and TV stuff. I like the sports. I get the national news on my iPad from lots of sources and instant notifications from all the major news sources. The Daily Sun has all of the info about local restaurants, clubs and I often see my friends in the paper. It is very inexpensive. It should pay for itself with coupons and specials. It fills a niche.

[hulahips]

They provide villages news, not anything of importance or substance

[Paper1]

Because of the very high level of discretionary income in The Villages the advertising revenue this paper receives drives the news content. Few papers in the entire country can compare, most are just barely hanging on. Great business model.

[CFrance]

Buffalo Ridge Vet Clinic does collect it on Mondays for use by The Humane Society.
Not anywhere near where I shop, unfortunately. Plus if I'm not going to read most of it, subscribing to it would be a waste of trees.:ohdear:

[circletrack]

I agree. The attacks in Paris were well covered. I enjoy the paper and the info on local happenings, puzzles, comics and TV stuff. I like the sports. I get the national news on my iPad from lots of sources and instant notifications from all the major news sources. The Daily Sun has all of the info about local restaurants, clubs and I often see my friends in the paper. It is very inexpensive. It should pay for itself with coupons and specials. It fills a niche.

I often wonder if many of the folks that are quick to cut down the Sun have even read it.

There's a bunch of pages. It's much larger than my hometown paper, and the news section is pretty robust most days.

Is this perceived lack of news in the Sun because they aren't printing the police blotter and DUIs the front page every day?

I'm sorry, but that's not what interests me in a newspaper.

[perrjojo]

Is the Daily Sun a real newspaper.? Yes! , it is printed on paper with ink and it gives me news. It is delivered to my driveway early each morning and stops and starts with no problem. Does the Daily Sun report every event in the world in a timely manner?... No. Does the Daily Sun give me updated news about our area? Yes! There are plenty of sources to get up to date world news but The Daily Sun is the only place that I can depend on to tell me what is going on here in The Villages. I guess it's all about expectations and The Daily Sun meets my expectations for that news source.

[Cedwards38]

Kudos to The Daily Sun today! They did a much more thorough job of covering the French news and it's international implications. Thanks.

[Sandtrap328]

Great local paper!

For just 17 cents a day, I enjoy reading the local news and happenings followed by the little bit of national news. Toast and coffee with the puzzles and it is the start of another great day in The Villages.

I have the national news on-line with the USA Today and The Washington Post.

[justjim]

Is the Daily Sun a real newspaper.? Yes! , it is printed on paper with ink and it gives me news. It is delivered to my driveway early each morning and stops and starts with no problem. Does the Daily Sun report every event in the world in a timely manner?... No. Does the Daily Sun give me updated news about our area? Yes! There are plenty of sources to get up to date world news but The Daily Sun is the only place that I can depend on to tell me what is going on here in The Villages. I guess it's all about expectations and The Daily Sun meets my expectations for that news source.

:thumbup: nice post. Like other posters have said, there are several Threads on this subject. BTW you can pull up The Daily Sun on-line---not all of it but you can get a "flavor" of what is going on In TV during your travels and stays. You also have the unnamed on-line newspaper.

Bottom line---I enjoy the local papers and definitely get my 17/18 cents a day worth from reading the "parts" I enjoy in The Daily Sun.

[Challenger]

The Daily Sun has been discussed ad nauseum if you hit search above, you will find almost as many threads about it as dog poop and roundabouts.


The Daily Sun was owned directly by the developer and then sold about four years ago to a good friend of the developer. The developer rents his business the building and the equipment.


The Daily Sun covers a lot of what is happening in The Villages but if someone gets arrested, it never names names, or shows pictures or gives addresses, well hardly ever. If someone commits suicide it isn't printed and the editorial slant is conservative and the views are pro developer. It is the preferred advertising vehicle for the sales of new and used homes by the Morses and it might as well be still owned by them. It feels the same as before it was bought by Phillip Markham(?) I may have his name wrong.


It does have news feeds, almost always on the second and third pages of world news from decent sources but most of us have smart phones, computers and availability to watch TV all day and night if we want to, so a once a day summary is often old news when the paper comes out.


I used to read it every day but found in the last couple of years that I don't. I am pretty aware of what is going on in The Villages, been to all the parades once or twice and the events that are pretty much the same, but fun and new to new folks...and after a while most of us have chosen the activities that we enjoy. My husband enjoys The Sun still and reads the sports page first with his coffee in the morning.


Paper journalism everywhere is getting much less used..I thought I
would never say that.

There is not a thing wrong with the Daily Sun. It is a good conservative paper much like Ohio people grew up with.

In the final analysis, customers (readers) will decide if the "Sun" is a useful publication. When it no longer has enough customers , it will go away. It matters little what the detractors posting on the or other Forums think or say. If it does not meet your needs -stop buying and reading . The market usually is very discerning.

[Mleeja]

Just to follow up and add to other comments, TV is a community of 60,000 to 100,000 people depending on the time of the year. The DS services this community. Name me another newpaper for a community the same size that is similar to the TV? This probably cannot be done. It is crazy if you start comparing the DS to the NY Post, LA Times, WSJ, etc. These are national newspapers and services a different audiance.

If your looking for "national" news, look on line or watch on TV. If you want to know what is happening in TV and surrounding area, the DS has you covered. As been mentioned before, no one is making you read or subscribe to the DS, if you do not like it, don't subscribe.

I provided the DS to my renters. Most if not all would mention in their reviews that it was nice to receive the local paper on a daily basis.

[buzzy]

For me, it's worth the price for the "Wheels" section on Friday.

[jblum315]

I wish I could have The Daily Sun only on Wednesdays for the ads and Thursday's for the Rec section. But if I bought just those papers it would cost about as much as an annual subscription plus having to go out and buy them. So I continue to subscribe.

[zonerboy]

Certainly it is primarily an advertising vehicle, both to attract new buyers with positive stories regarding all the activities going on here in The Villages, and also to keep current residents upbeat about The Villages "lifestyle". You will find little coverage of issues that could be considered negative to the desired image (such as concerns about recurring bad odors in neighborhoods close to the landfill).
There is coverage of national or international news, but by the time such stories are published, I have already read them (sometimes word for word) in other sources. The only current news of interest to me, I find in the sports section.
But it does contain useful info about local happenings, so I do subscribe.
Basically, it is what it is. Take it or leave it.

[RickeyD]

Certainly it is primarily an advertising vehicle, both to attract new buyers with positive stories regarding all the activities going on here in The Villages, and also to keep current residents upbeat about The Villages "lifestyle". You will find little coverage of issues that could be considered negative to the desired image (such as concerns about recurring bad odors in neighborhoods close to the landfill).

There is coverage of national or international news, but by the time such stories are published, I have already read them (sometimes word for word) in other sources. The only current news useful to me I find in the sports section.

But it does contain useful info about local happening, so I do subscribe.

Basically, it is what it is. Take it or leave it.


This should be submitted as an op-ed [emoji106]

[mickey100]

Certainly it is primarily an advertising vehicle, both to attract new buyers with positive stories regarding all the activities going on here in The Villages, and also to keep current residents upbeat about The Villages "lifestyle". You will find little coverage of issues that could be considered negative to the desired image (such as concerns about recurring bad odors in neighborhoods close to the landfill).
There is coverage of national or international news, but by the time such stories are published, I have already read them (sometimes word for word) in other sources. The only current news of interest to me, I find in the sports section.
But it does contain useful info about local happenings, so I do subscribe.
Basically, it is what it is. Take it or leave it.

Bingo - you nailed it. I think most people just use it to find out about local happenings, and it does a good job of that, at least things like recreational activities and the like. It used to really skimp on anything negative in the community like golf cart accidents, arrests, crime reporting, etc., but supposedly it is doing a better job lately. Any serious news we want in a timely manner we can find online or on television news, or via other newspapers such as the Orlando paper. The DS is what it is.

[The Chipster]

Most decent newspapers now have e-versions that are extremely easy to read and navigate on a tablet. I am now in India on business and read The Atlanta Journal every morning . No more wasted paper, messy ink, and it looks and reads exactly like the paper version, complete with ads and coupons. The Daily Sun is nothing but a kool-aid rag.

[CFrance]

Most decent newspapers now have e-versions that are extremely easy to read and navigate on a tablet. I am now in India on business and read The Atlanta Journal every morning . No more wasted paper, messy ink, and it looks and reads exactly like the paper version, complete with ads and coupons. The Daily Sun is nothing but a kool-aid rag.
I do believe they would boost their readership if they offered a digital version. there are so few retirees these days who don't know how to use a computer. What is the DS waiting for?

[Jimturner]

The Daily Sun is an information source with what's going on around our Retirement Community. I for one love browsing through the sun everyday without being burdened with the real world problems that I came here to get away from. I have done my part and to be frank, most of us here are to old to do anything but get in the way of the younger folks that prefer we would stand back and let the professionals take care of crime. Keep up the good work Daily Sun.

[manaboutown]

I love reading the Daily Sun. It not only provides locally interesting light news about the goings on in TV; it features wonderful editorials.

[racingme]

I believe the Sun is little more than what we used to call a "shopper". It exists primarily to advertise houses in The Villages, businesses that exist to serve people in The Villages, and to espouse a particular political point of view that agrees with the developer of The Villages. If you want real, hard news, keep doing what you're doing, but you might also want to add the Miami Herald in the mix for their columnists and their statewide coverage.

[graciegirl]

...