"Since a competing lower priced newspaper, THE BUGLE, was started five years ago, THE MERCURY's circulation has decliened by 10,000 readers. The best way to get more people to read THE MERCURY is to reduce its price below that of THE BUGLE, at least until circulation increases to former levels. The increased circulation of THE MERCURY will attract more business to buy advertising space in the paper."
Discuss how well reasoned....
The author argues that by reducing price of an old newspaper THE MERCURY below that of THE BUGLE, which is relatively new, will allow the former to recover from the reduced circulations after the latter was introduced. After a close introspection of the argument, it seems to be flawed in the wake of many assumptions taken by the author.
Firstly, the author says that THE BUGLE was started five years ago. During this long time many changes would have taken place in the circulation of newspaper. May be the circulation of THE BUGLE has reached places where THE MERCURY is still not circulated, leaving people with no other option to buy THE BUGLE. The author should provide data on which areas do both newpapers cover.
Secondly, the author suggests that the reduced price will increase circulation of THE MERCURY. The is mearly an assumption, there are no supporting evidences in the given text that prices were the only reason. It is very much possible that the articles of THE BUGLE are more interesting and easy to understand than, THE MERCURY. If the data of a survey would also have incorporated in the given paragraph which reflects the correct reasoning of why readers are choosing THE BUGE over THE MERCURY then it would have been much balanced.
Finally, the author cites that increase in circulation will result in an increase in advertising space as well. The hidden flaw in this statement is that the advertising attracted by a newspaper is directly propotional to its circulation. If by reducing prices the circulation increases, it is quite possible that only the people with scarce financial resources would want to prefer THE MERCURY in order to save some money. That section of the society may not be the right audiance or the prespective target customer of the advertisers, this fact has not been touch upon in the argument.
In sum, the authors argument is not persuasive or convincing. The lack of aforementioned points makes it a weak argument. The author should provide appropriate data in order identify the right reason for decrease in circulation and then target that in giving solution to the problems being faced by THE MERCURY.
Discuss how well reasoned....
The author argues that by reducing price of an old newspaper THE MERCURY below that of THE BUGLE, which is relatively new, will allow the former to recover from the reduced circulations after the latter was introduced. After a close introspection of the argument, it seems to be flawed in the wake of many assumptions taken by the author.
Firstly, the author says that THE BUGLE was started five years ago. During this long time many changes would have taken place in the circulation of newspaper. May be the circulation of THE BUGLE has reached places where THE MERCURY is still not circulated, leaving people with no other option to buy THE BUGLE. The author should provide data on which areas do both newpapers cover.
Secondly, the author suggests that the reduced price will increase circulation of THE MERCURY. The is mearly an assumption, there are no supporting evidences in the given text that prices were the only reason. It is very much possible that the articles of THE BUGLE are more interesting and easy to understand than, THE MERCURY. If the data of a survey would also have incorporated in the given paragraph which reflects the correct reasoning of why readers are choosing THE BUGE over THE MERCURY then it would have been much balanced.
Finally, the author cites that increase in circulation will result in an increase in advertising space as well. The hidden flaw in this statement is that the advertising attracted by a newspaper is directly propotional to its circulation. If by reducing prices the circulation increases, it is quite possible that only the people with scarce financial resources would want to prefer THE MERCURY in order to save some money. That section of the society may not be the right audiance or the prespective target customer of the advertisers, this fact has not been touch upon in the argument.
In sum, the authors argument is not persuasive or convincing. The lack of aforementioned points makes it a weak argument. The author should provide appropriate data in order identify the right reason for decrease in circulation and then target that in giving solution to the problems being faced by THE MERCURY.
