Monday’s announcement concerning the sale of the newspaper caught a lot of you — effectively, really I believe it was all of you — a bit off guard. I get it.
I’ve heard, “Effectively, I didn’t have that on my bingo card for Monday” greater than as soon as from people nonetheless making an attempt to course of the information. Like I mentioned, I get it.
Nevertheless, don’t have any concern mild reader. This transfer places The Covington Information in a greater place to serve you, its advertisers and this second-to-none group. That’s a lot extra vital than whether or not I personal the paper or not. A minimum of it’s in my thoughts.
I’m extremely excited in regards to the future right here at The Information, and I’m equally excited I’m nonetheless going to be part of it.
Covington has been my second residence for 9 years now. When Charles Hill Morris approached me about buying Covington 9 years in the past, I couldn’t have been extra excited. I keep in mind him saying he felt like he was leaving the newspaper, its workers and the group they serve in good palms, and I really feel the identical means now.
However Graham, didn’t you simply purchase a paper? And if you happen to love the group a lot, why are you doing this?
That’s simple. For my part, newspaper house owners are stewards of group establishments. The Walton Tribune has been publishing for 126 years. The Oconee Enterprise has been at this for 142 years. The Covington Information is the dean, publishing for 161 years. Once you have a look at it by that lens, it’s not about what are we doing to be right here in a 12 months, or 5 years or 10 years. It’s what are we doing that we’re going to be right here one other 126, 142 and 161 years.
Nearly as good stewards, that’s what we have now to be : the lengthy sport for these newspapers and the communities they serve. There are by no means any ensures in enterprise or in life, for that matter, however I really consider this places on the most effective path ahead.
The Brumby household should not simply going to be good stewards of those group establishments. They’ll be nice ones.
Otis Brumby III and his household have a 110-history of proudly owning and working newspapers in Georgia. Extra importantly, or at the very least equally importantly, they’ve an incredible imaginative and prescient for the long run on this enterprise that has a confirmed monitor file of success.
Their imaginative and prescient matches mine: funding in native, group journalism; preserve and broaden the core print product, acknowledge the chance digital presents however not on the expense of continuous to supply people with that ink on paper possibility.
Whereas it looks as if an enormous change, and it’s, on the finish of the day you’ve received the identical folks being put in an excellent higher place to offer you the details about your group you’ll be able to’t get anyplace else on the planet.
It’s an thrilling new chapter, people. I’m excited to be part of it. I hope you may be to.
Patrick Graham is the writer of The Covington Information. He will be reached at patrick.graham@waltontribune.com.
