Moscow-Pullman Daily News Blogs

Universal Press Syndicate has sent out a letter for those of us who carry the popular “For Better or For Worse” comic strip. In it, the providers of Lynn Johnston’s daily strip try to put to rest rumors that the series is going to end.

The strip will “start over” on Sept. 1 with new strips that help retell the story she started 29 years ago. According to information from Universal Press Syndicate, eventually half the material will be new and the other half will be repeated from the course of the strip.

You can see an interview with Johnston here

For Better or For Worse ranked right at the top of our comic survey a few years back, so we plan to go with the new format.

The problem is there are plenty of people out there who have tried to use the change as a means to work their way into the market. They toss out some half-truths in an attempt to get people to completely dump the strip. Basically, they’re stretching the truth so they can swipe some of the business Johnston has generated.

I have become familiar with this particular marketing technique. Usually, I hear about it when someone runs around the area claiming the newspaper (either this one in particular or the industry in general) is dying. That’s usually accompanied by a pitch to take business that’s historically gone to the Daily News and spend the money elsewhere.

Of course, the claims that we’re going away are about as accurate as the demise of “For Better or For Worse.” Our industry might be changing, but we’re not going anywhere.