The Cambrian is going all-digital. What does this mean for paper, Slice of Life column?
This is not goodbye. I promise.
Just because The Cambrian is shifting to an all-digital format after this week, it doesn’t mean the paper is going away.
Neither am I.
I’ve been answering two questions for months: Is The Cambrian going out of business? Am I out of a job?
No. And no.
The Cambrian is making the switch to digital simply because more and more of our audience is choosing to read their news online.
While we will no longer produce a weekly print edition, which was launched by publisher Austin Waltz in 1931, nothing will change about the news coverage we provide for North Coast readers.
It instead will be published on a special page at sanluisobispo.com/cambrian, along with a customized email newsletter highlighting the best stories of the week, upcoming events and news updates. The Cambrian has a handy tab at the top of The Tribune’s homepage, so you can toggle back and forth between the two.
Readers can find the Cambrian’s print archives at the Cambria Historical Society.
What The Cambrian means to me
I’ve spent more than half my life writing for The Cambrian and decades as a dedicated subscriber.
I’d pick the latest edition out of my mailbox and, as soon as I had a few moments to spare, sit down to do a cover-to-cover read of our paper.
Usually my phone would start to ring soon after that as friends and neighbors called to chat about the news: “Did you read about (fill in the blank)!”
Some of those conversations have shifted to social media platforms in recent years, although my phone still rings regularly with questions and comments.
Still, considering that I’ve spent most of my adult life writing stories and columns for The Cambrian, the end of the print edition brings up emotions and a profound sense of loss.
It’s like losing a tangible friend, something I could clutch in my hand during hard times and wave like a flag in good ones.
Memorable moments
Over the course of my time as a Cambrian writer and reader, there have been too many memorable moments to list — some fun, some terrifying, some sad and some accompanied by a great sense of accomplishment.
The Cambrian has covered murders, fires, floods and new highways, as well as road closures, water issues, businesses and restaurants. Misdeeds have been uncovered, notable people profiled and achievements lauded.
I wasn’t there to write about the Hearst Castle bombing in 1976, but I have written a lot about William Randolph Hearst’s former San Simeon estate as well as the Hearst family and their ranch and winery.
Over the years, The Cambrian has won lots of awards and served as an essential part of its readers’ lives. And it’s not going away.
I’ll continue to report on the North Coast stories that you’ve told us you want us to cover
I promise I’ll do better about posting things more often on Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor. Old dogs can learn new tricks!
How you can help
Here’s how you can help me with my mission.
Please keep in touch, the way you always have. The best way to reach me is via email at ktanner@thetribunenews.com.
If there’s a topic you’d like me to consider, please tell me about it.
If you don’t like something I’ve written, tell me why.
If you like something I’ve written, I’m always delighted to hear that!
And if news is breaking somewhere, anywhere, on my beat — which stretches from Big Sur to Morro Bay — please let me know ASAP so I can tell our readers about it.
Talk to me at the market, the drug store or a restaurant or shop. Touch base with me during meetings.
Or, true Cambria style, let’s chat on the sidewalk or in the middle of the street.
Because The Cambrian and I will continue being part of your lives for a long, long time.
This story was originally published March 29, 2023 at 12:34 PM.
