While most publications are making the shift from print to online, those behind Mason Today, Williamston Today and Okemos Today are going the other direction. Originally online publications, they have seen so much success that, Josh Curtis, one of the founders, says they wanted to give the community a free, printed news source. You can now pick up a copy of Mason Today or have it delivered.
Mason Today was launched when Curtis and his wife Katy, and his mother Kathy Morse, noticed Mason was missing a news source meant to focus on in depth coverage of the local community. There was an extremely positive response and in the last quarter Mason Today and Williamston Today boasted 251,000 page views.
Curtis says both the community and advertisers have shown an interest in the print edition, so much so they decided to print monthly instead of quarterly. “The newspaper isn’t really dying,” says Curtis, “many just have gaps where there should be local content.” The paper will fill that gap by providing information on city council meetings, school news, local history and even a student of the month (sponsored by a local Verizon store).
Between the sites and the printed version, they have around 6 writers and two full-time employees helping make the publications possible.
Source: Josh Curtis, Mason Today
?Author: Allison Monroe, Innovation News Editor
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