DUANE SHERRILL
Contributor
Continuing the rich tradition of news organizations which date back over a century in Marion County, today The Marion Tribune is publishing its inaugural edition, the new publication aimed at keeping its readers informed and enlightened with a wide variety of articles.
“We are so excited to launch The Marion Tribune today and we look forward to offering weekly editions to our readers,” said Allison Richards, General Manager. “This is my home and I take great pride in offering my friends and neighbors the best paper possible.”
Richards is joined by Editor/News Writer Lacie Silva and Sports Writer Shane Shoemaker on Day-One of the publication; however, Richards said more help is being sought to make the paper even better.
“We need news contributors, sports contributors and photographers,” Richards said in encouraging talented people from the area to take part by showcasing their writing and pictures in the Tribune. “We also want readers to reach out with their events so we can spotlight them across the entire community.”
Richards noted that the community can help by subscribing and advertising. “For $35 you get an entire year of the Tribune sent to your home every Thursday,” Richards revealed. “Advertising will help you reach your customers and along with our affiliation with Lakeway Publishers, Inc., your advertising can be regional.”
Lakeway also publishes The Tullahoma News, Manchester Times, Grundy Herald, Moore County News, The Elk Valley Times, and The Herald Chronicle.
Lakeway Vice President, Keith Ponder, says it is an honor to enter a market with such a rich news tradition.
“Marion County has a rich-newspapering history—The Jasper Journal, The South Pittsburg Hustler and most recently The Marion County News,” Ponder said. “All worked hard to provide news and information to Marion Countians for years. Most recently David Riley, owner of the News, was a long-time customer of ours and we recognized the significant time, talent and energy his team poured into his publication. They ran a very good race. We are honored to take the baton and stand on the shoulders of these three distinguished, award-winning newspapers. They have set a high bar.”
Starting a newspaper from scratch is something Ponder said is exciting even to veteran news professionals.
“This is an exciting event in the life of our company. Most of our newspapers are over 100 years old and the Tribune is just an infant. It’s a different strategy on a new launch, but we are very encouraged by the warm welcome we’ve had the past two months as we’ve organized the start-up.”
Ponder wants the Tribune to work hand-in-hand with the community to build the publication into a shining beacon.
“In an era where newspapers are struggling it’s critical that we do our best work to serve the community, but it’s also it’s critical for the community to support local community journalism. We will work hard to earn that support, but we need the community to advocate on our behalf for local journalism, to read local journalism and to support local community journalism by subscribing and advertising. It will take all of us. You can expect the Tribune to inform community, to connect community and to celebrate community. We will be extremely local. We are about hometowns in our company. We are Tennessee-based, family owned and have deep roots in communities like Whitwell, South Pittsburg, Monteagle and Jasper. These communities are the fabric that built our company.”
The Marion Tribune is located in the Lawyer’s Building, 100 Betsy Pack Drive, Suite #204 across from the courthouse in Jasper, just across from Builtwell Bank. The office number is 423.590.NEWS (6397). You can email Allison Richards at arichards@mariontribune.com or editor, Lacie Silva at llimadasilva@mariontribune.com.
