The longer I am in the newspaper business, the more vital I feel it is to take some sort of inventory at year end about where you&#x92;ve been, where you&#x92;re going and just who you have delighted and angered along the way. First and most important, we are finishing 2011 with more readers to our print, online and Facebook page than we had when we started this year. That in itself is a huge accomplishment.</p><p>There is always circulation churn in our business, but we more than overcame that this year and will proudly end the year with a good increase in print subscribers. There are precious few newspapers that can say that any longer. We also finish the year with a nice bump in online page views, breaking the 120,000 mark in November and averaging well over 100,000 a month in the last quarter.</p><p>I think our commitment to news and community views are a strong testament as to why we continue to attract readers and subscribers.</p><p>In the last year, we have brought on another eight community columnists that help share what they know about their own business and personal dealings with our readers.</p><p>And in a time when some are cynical about news gathering and reporting, I think we have excelled in bringing the good news of our community forward through many features and a business series called Defying the Downturn. Sure, we had some fun this year reporting on ghosts and UFOs around Lee&#x92;s Summit.</p><p>But we also tackled the serious issues, topics that bring out the raw emotion in our citizens and taxpayers, like the failed school district levy or the ongoing debate on trash and recycling in our community.</p><p>There were less crime stories in 2011 for good reason &#x96; there&#x92;s less crime. But we were still on the scene for pedestrian fatalities and other police action that need to be reported by the newspaper of record.</p><p>Like many industries, we survived many challenges and obstacles this calendar year. And in doing so were named the newspaper of the year both by the local press club and in our category by the Missouri Press Association.</p><p>And, most importantly, we stayed in business and viable in 2011. We turned 130 this year and proudly celebrated as the second oldest business in the city of Lee&#x92;s Summit.</p><p>As we close the book on this year and dive into 2012, we do so with a newfound vigor and hope for the future of our industry &#x96; optimism in fact &#x96; that we serve a need and purpose in a community that values its news and the freedom of the press.</p><p>John Beaudoin is the publisher of the Lee&#x92;s Summit Journal. To comment, call 816-282-7001 or email jbeaudoin@lsjournal.com