In keeping with the theme, ‘A Year in Review,’ I thought I would take this opportunity to go back and reflect upon the changes The Free Press made in 2012.
Following The Free Press becoming a free newspaper in 2011, there was a lot of work to do in 2012 to increase distribution and hire newspaper carriers to get the papers to your doors every week. By the end of the summer we had hired over 40 local newspaper carriers many. For many of them, it was their first job.
This brought our distribution to over 6,000 papers every week delivered to our homes and businesses in our community from 2,000 just over a year earlier.
The Free Press Publisher believes that residents in The Elk Valley should not have to pay to find out what is happening in their community, and should receive a copy of their community newspaper every week.
In October The Free Press expanded its circulation into the Crowsnest Pass and is now the only free community newspaper in that area with 1,000 newspapers weekly, circulated in 38 locations. The Free Press is now reaching 7,000 people, and circulated from Jaffray to Blairmore including Fernie, Hosmer, Sparwood, Elkford, Coleman and everywhere in between.
The Free Press also donated almost a quarter of a million dollars in sponsorship to community groups across The Elk Valley and will continue to do so.
With the community’s support The Free Press has now reached 83 per cent of The Elk Valley population, compared to 37 per cent in 2010. The Free Press thanks the community for their support and welcomes any feedback or suggestions. We believe The Free Press is The Elk Valley’s community newspaper and we want to continue to be the trusted vehicle for your news.