A few short months have passed since we launched the print version of The Hutchinson Tribune. It is hard to believe it is already late November. The Thanksgiving holiday provides a welcome opportunity to pause and reflect on what we have to be thankful for.
First, we have to thank all of our supporters. Truly, our readers are the reason why we put together the paper every week and send out an email newsletter every morning.
Without readers, there would be no reason for newspapers to exist. We rely on an interested and engaged public. Thank you for entrusting us with keeping you informed about what is going on in your communities.
Local governments rely on volunteer and underpaid leadership, and we are grateful for those who are elected to serve. The role of the newspaper is to help citizens hold their leaders accountable, and it is also to help the public sector keep its residents informed. In most cases, transparency is good for everyone.
Some say that not much happens in small rural towns—those people do not know what they are talking about. We know that the places we cover in Reno and Sedgwick counties are full of caring people working to make their towns better. Thank you to those active community members creating so many stories worth celebrating.
Sharing the news is a challenge in today’s world with so many things competing for our attention. Thank you to those readers who go above and beyond to give copies of the paper to their friends and family to keep them informed. We always want to see more people know what is going on in their communities.
There are still a few days left of a special promotion for anyone interested in purchasing a gift copy of The Hutchinson Tribune for a friend or loved one this holiday season. Head to our website to learn how you can get a holiday gift mug—you can choose if you keep it or give it along with the newspaper subscription.
Our business model relies on support from both readers and advertising partners. Connecting readers to local businesses is part of a virtuous cycle that builds a stronger local economy for everyone. We are grateful for all the businesses that work with us to help market their products and services. The Editorial Board is also grateful for Misty Rae, our marketing specialist, who helps keep the advertising side of the business at arm’s length from the newsroom.
The Hutchinson Tribune is now up to the staffing level that we consider “fully-staffed” here at the launch. The publisher and leader of the Editorial Board, Jackson Swearer, is particularly grateful for everyone who has joined the team full-time and all of the freelance writers who fill the pages of the newspaper with amazing content week in and week out.
Throughout this period of rapid growth and expansion, Kansas Publishing Ventures, specifically Joey and Lindsey Young, have been hard at work behind the scenes, making it possible to put out a newspaper every week. Their skill and experience in running award-winning newspapers set us on the path toward long-term success. Thank you to the Youngs for their contributions to preserving locally owned newspapers in rural Kansas.
There is much to be thankful for. Family, food, and football are common themes for most Thanksgiving celebrations. The holiday is sometimes associated with overeating followed by a nap on the couch. We hope that this week you will also take a few moments to reflect on what you have to be thankful for this holiday season.
The Hutchinson Tribune is thankful for you, the reader.
-The Hutchinson Tribune Editorial Board