The owners of Tri County Reporter announced late last week that the end of February will be the end of the road for the weekly publication.
The Reporter was the result of the merger of the Azle News and Springtown Epigraph.
They cover portions of Parker, Wise and Tarrant Counties— all growing communities with no lack of news.
I got word of the closure before the public with an email at the University a few weeks back.
It’s a common story these days.
In the past year, communities like Clarksville, Mount Vernon and Winnsboro are now without newspapers.
Closer to home, the Leonard Graphic closed its doors in December.
We get calls at the University from longtime newspaper owners looking for solutions— looking for a buyer, looking for a way to keep the presses running.
We’ve been able to help many of them, but not near enough.
The root reasons for these closings vary, but the closing owners often cite the same issues— a lack of advertising revenue in a changing media world.
Their actual situations vary.
Nonetheless, I remain optimistic about the future of community newspapers.
I have no other choice.
I am blessed to work with a generation of gifted young college journalists who are preparing to take the world by storm. Their enthusiasm energizes me.
I am grateful to be part of their stories and know that the journalism bench is ready to get in the game.
Moreover, these newspaper closings remind me to count my blessings here at home.
Thank you— to our readers— for finding value in our work.
Thank you— to our advertisers— for supporting our efforts trusting us to help grow your business.
We are all in this together and Western Grayson County is an amazing place.
We are blessed to be a small part of such a wonderful community.
Source: Freepik.com