State of the newspaper

Posted 3/5/24

These past 12 months have brought many changes for us here at The Leader. Last February, I took the helm as publisher once again.

During that time we’ve crafted a new Leader; one that …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

State of the newspaper

Posted

These past 12 months have brought many changes for us here at The Leader. Last February, I took the helm as publisher once again.

During that time we’ve crafted a new Leader; one that includes a larger marketing team who dedicate themselves to helping our local businesses thrive.

We have increased our contributors from more varied backgrounds. This diverse and purely local perspective strengthens and expands our coverage. Our editorial team has brought back award-winning writers and a three-time Emmy winning journalist to proof the stories herein.

Our production team has replenished the paper with a modern, brutalist take on print.

Our community boasts incredible talent and we continue to avail ourselves of that, hiring professional photographers to elevate our Working Waterfront and Lifestyle magazines.

Our circulation team travels at night and well into the morning, through rain, snow, sleet and seagulls to bring The Leader to our vendors, whom you increasingly patronize, as evidenced by our growing subscriber list and rack sales.

The front office has updated our too-long languishing systems to give you our best possible customer service.

Your hometown newspaper is doing well.

In the United States last year, more than 20,000 media professionals were laid off and more than 130 newspapers ceased to publish, according to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

The largest chain of newspapers in this area is now seeking protection from its creditors in both Canada and the U.S. and we can only hope all of its titles survive whatever the future brings, because the loss of any newspaper is a blow to democracy.

But this newspaper is growing once again. After the harrowing losses all businesses suffered throughout the pandemic, we have again increased our page count and our payroll.

All of this has happened under the critical eyes of our readers, who continually push us to be stronger advocates for our community.

Our success these past 12 months is because of you, dear reader.

Lloyd Mullen
Publisher