As always, this column is being written in advance of deadline, but if all went according to plan yesterday (Tuesday), readers of the Dawson News & Advertiser website should notice a lot of changes this week.
Tuesday was to have been the day the switch was thrown on a totally revamped and redesigned website for the Advertiser.
Advertiser subscribers can continue to gain full access to our E-edition, which contains every story and ad that appears in our print edition.
If you are not a subscriber, I’d invite you to sign up to visit Dawsonville and Dawson County’s hometown newspaper online. We’ve made some changes, with more to come, that we hope will enhance your experience with our newspaper both in print and online.
Subscribers receive both the print and online editions, although we do offer the option of reading the newspaper through the E-edition only if you prefer.
On Page 2A in today’s paper, you’ll find an ad with instructions on how to log onto the E-edition. Be aware that there is a change in procedure, and you will now log in using the customer ID number plus last name (no spaces) as your username and customer ID that can be found on your mailing information on the front of the newspaper as your password.
We’ll still update our website with breaking news and headlines that anyone can read at no charge. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll be adding additional content to the website that we hope you will find useful and informative, but which won’t necessarily appear in the printed version of the Advertiser.
Like a growing number of newspapers, we’re determined to keep our newspaper strong, and as our company president, Dink NeSmith, likes to remind us, to be a good newspaper, you must first be a good business.
While you can’t read many full news stories online without being an Advertiser subscriber, the fact is that news stories are never “free.”
We employ a dedicated team of reporters, photographers, ad designers, composition, press room, mailing and delivery personnel to produce the Advertiser each week.
We’re confident you will agree that there is no better source for news, information and advertising concerning Dawson County than the Dawson News & Advertiser.
We’ve been able to stay strong despite the worst economy I’ve personally experienced in more than three decades of plying the newspaper trade.
These latest changes are designed to help us remain in a strong position to continue as your advocate and information source into the 22nd century and beyond.
As with any new venture, it may take us a week or two to work out the kinks, but I hope that, in the end, you will be pleased with our latest offering.
Someone once told me “If you don’t like change, you’re going to like being irrelevant even less,” and that’s something I’ve always taken to heart.
Your feedback and suggestions are welcome.

Wayne Knuckles is the general manager of the Dawson News & Advertiser. He can be reached at 706-864-3613 or wknuckles@thedahloneganugget.com.