John Christie, the publisher of the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel, has led meetings the past two days telling all of our 200-plus employees what we've done well in recent months and talking about the challenges — John candidly calls them "problems" — facing our company and the newspaper industry.

His message is by no means a downer. I'm really abbreviating his eloquent (he is my boss) words. He's saying:

— The Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel, and our Web sites, have one of the best "reaches" in our industry. Eighty-seven percent of all people in our markets read our newspapers or one of our Web sites over a 7-day period. So far as we know, only the Times-Picayune of New Orleans matches that, and people down there have so depended on that newspaper for their news post-Hurricane Katrina that it's no wonder that very good paper is a national leader.

— Paid circulation is dropping slowly at both of our newspapers. But, our circulation numbers are better than most newspapers, which are declining more quickly. If you're wondering how our "reach" can be so strong while our paid circulation gradually drops, it's because some people share a newspaper several times after one person buys it. Also, the Web sites are gaining readers all the time, readers who don't always buy the print paper (but often do). It's a safe bet that sky-high fuel prices encourage people to become "pass-along readers" too.

— Our advertising sales are strong, especially locally. Not as great as five years ago, but strong. Local advertisers realize how strong our market "reach" is, and know that we're a good place to put your money if you want a whole lot of people in this area to see what you're selling. Our sales staff also knows its customers well.

— Readers told a research company we hired last year that basically they like our newspapers and rely on them. The research firm found no major content weaknesses, and that's highly unusual for them. They do not tell you what you want to hear. We are weak in serving women between the ages of 18 to 35, but mostly we get favorable ratings. We are reaching out to young, female readers in our Life and Leisure Sunday section. You might keep an eye out for that.

— Our researchers said there is one thing our readers want us to change immediately, and they told us loud and clear: They want earlier delivery. Central Mainers are early risers and they think we are delivered a little too late. Production Director Dick Boyer and Circulation Director Tim Crilley are working with John, me and many others on that. We will have more to say about it soon. This will happen, sooner rather than later.

John's other message to our staff — many of whom have worked here for a decade, two decades, or longer — is that this is a time for change. We are doing breaking-news updates on the Web, blogs, gearing up for online ad sales, seeking to deliver the paper earlier, and much more. All of these things force employees to change focused and efficient routines that were years in the making. That's hard to do.

The newspaper industry isn't renowned for speedy change or innovation, though I think this is happening with our Web sites especially.