August, 1975

EDITORIAL RESPONSE

HIGH GEAR

The following is an editorial by a member of the HIGH GEAR staff, and is intended to reflect the editorial policies of the HIGH GEAR Newspaper.

A.G. Madigan

In the August issue of the Ohio East Gay News, the staff of the HIGH GEAR newspaper was confronted with a rather negative editorial by a member of the Ohio East staff. We would like to take issue with that editorial, and explain the facts as we see them at HIGH GEAR.

First, let us acknowledge the fact that the Ohio East publication is a fine, quality, newspaper, that is serving the needs of its community. However, our problem lies in the definition of the boundaries of the community we referred to above. We also agree that the gay media is coming of age, and that the name of the game is communication.

However, the name of the game is also pride. Pride in proving to a local community that the impossible can be done, and done well. Since its inception, the HIGH GEAR has striven for quality in appearance, content, scope, and attitude. To do this, however, took time. Time to awaken the Cleveland community to the concept of gay communications, and community awareness. Time to convince local businesses that the gay community around them is important to them, and that they should try to sell gay. It takes money to publish a quality newspaper, not just good writing. But it is our considered opinion that we have spent the time wisely, and well.

What you see before you is not (nor has it ever been) a newsletter of the GEAR Foundation. A news letter is typed on a single sheet of paper, folded, stuck in an envelope, and mailed. We are not such a publication. A quality newspaper is not judged solely on the layout, but preferably by the content. We believe that HIGH GEAR can stand alongside almost any publication, and be equal, if not better.

PGN, Inc. (Pittsbourgh Gay News) was not approached by the staff of HIGH GEAR. Neither was the staff of HIGH GEAR approached by PGN, Inc. When the Ohio East staff in Akron, Ohio, resigned, the HIGH GEAR staff offered its assistance and support to the Ohio East publication (or PGN). A mutual interest in a syndication effort grew, and during the ONE meeting held with PGN, a mutually agreeable settlement was reached, and the HIGH GEAR staff requested a written contract, to assure that the details of the agreement would not be forgotten by either party. Unfortunately, the details were forgotten immediately by PGN.

Probably the strongest point of dissention was the name of the syndicated publication. The staff of HIGH GEAR felt that they wanted to keep the original name, and not change to Ohio East Gay News. We were interested in keeping this a Cleveland (or Northeastern Ohio) Publication, not making it a Pittsburgh newspaper. We felt that the local community had developed some sense of pride in the quality that was developing in the HIGH-GEAR, and the ability of the news. paper to continue on its own. The PGN representatives were adamantly opposed to any name except that of Ohio East Gay News, but were willing to compromise with HIGH GEAR/Ohio East Gay News. In the contract that was sent for approval, this was mentioned, but only as a temporary phase, with the name changing after a certain period of time to guess what? Ohio East Gay News.

There were several other points in the written contract that were opposite of the verbal agreement reached during our meeting with the PGN representatives, which showed a complete lack of understanding on the part of PGN, of the feelings of the HIGH GEAR staff. Not the least of which was the binding nature of the contract, which would not have permitted the HIGH GEAR staff to withdraw if they did not feel comfortable with PGN after a trial publication period.

Those of us who have worked for HIGH GEAR since the beginning, and those of us who have joined the staff over the past few months, are proud of what we have to offer to OUR community. We feel that we have accomplished in one year, what it has taken many other communities much longer to achieve, and that is a NEWSPAPER that has quality writing, a wide scope of coverage, and is completely supported by the community it serves. We do not feel the need to extend ourselves outside our own community, and only distribute where requests are made. That area now encompasses the entire Northern Ohio area, from Toledo to Steubenville. We are being requested to distribute in West Virginia, southern Ohio, and several cities outside the Ohio area. However, our main service is to the Northeastern Ohio area, where we are now distributing upward to 10,000 copies every month.

We leave the issue of which newspaper you would prefer to see serving your community in your hands. WE are a newspaper that is published by people from your community, that keeps you informed of what is happening in your community, and is sponsored by businesses that serve your community. Ohio East Gay News is published by people that do not live in your community, contains news that does not relate to your community, and is sponsored by businesses that do not serve your community. True, the front page of

Page 1

HIGH GEAR

1975

PROUD

of it!

1st

# 0

Happy Birthday To Us!

Well, we made it! Twelve full issues of Cleveland's very own newspaper for the gay community. This marks somewhat of a milestone for the community here, and we feel is a cause for celebration.

Twelve issues and fifteen months ago, when the first issue of HIGH GEAR was printed, we presented you with a foldover of 8 1/2 x 11, printed on white offset press, and with a circulation of 500. We have worked hard and long hours to bring you today's publication; and average of 20 pages per issue, FULL size pages, we might add. and a circulation of close to 10,000. There are those who said it couldn't be done, and to vou. we dedicate this issue.

the last issue was news from the Cleveland Akron area, but one -page in twenty does not make it local newspaper. And one local advertiser does not give local support. But the decision is yours. HIGH GEAR can only grow, in quality, and service to the community, and it needs your support to do that. Drop us a line, and let us know if we are meeting your needs. If you have a complaint, and can offer us helpful criticism, drop us a line. But most of all, let the businesses you frequent know that you appreciate having us there.

Illustrations courtesy of "Polska"