A thank-you to our readers, and a newspaper that does things a little differently
By Jesse Sweigart, The Columbia Chronicle
COLUMBIA — The Columbia Chronicle has a printed edition.
Our first issue came out on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3: eight pages of Columbia and Wrightsville news, our editorials and ads from local businesses. Readers picked it up, read it and passed it along, and we’re grateful.
First, thank you. We started the Chronicle online with one goal: Putting Columbia First. We’ve sat through long council meetings, filed Right-to-Know requests and asked the questions residents wanted answered. We could only keep doing that because you kept reading, sharing our stories and sending us tips. This print edition is ours, but it exists because of you.
A new paper every Wednesday
From now on, the Chronicle will print every Wednesday, bringing you fresh coverage of what’s happening at Borough Hall, around town and across the river in Wrightsville.
Not a conventional newspaper
The Chronicle isn’t trying to be the newspaper your grandparents got on the porch every morning. It’s a new kind of local paper.
Our reporting still starts online at thecolumbiachronicle.com, where we post news as it happens. The Wednesday print edition gathers the week’s stories so neighbors who don’t follow us online can keep up too. We design it and print it right here on Locust Street. It’s built by Columbia people, for Columbia people.
Where to get it
- Level Up Gaming, 438 Locust Street: copies available now
- The Chronicle’s office, 436 Locust Street: once we open our doors next door
- By mail: subscriptions are coming soon. We’ll share details as soon as they’re ready.
Advertising for local businesses
We are now accepting a limited number of ads from local businesses. We’re keeping that number small on purpose, so the paper stays news first and every ad gets noticed.
Our first issue was possible because of Montgomery Design Build and Kyper Insurance Group, who ran ads in it. Thank you for believing in a hometown paper before the ink was even dry. We’re also grateful to the Columbia Borough Police Department for letting us share its CrimeWatch page with readers.
Thank you, Columbia
A newspaper is only as good as the people who read it, talk to it and push it. We owe a lot of people.
Thank you to Tim Schwartz of Lanco Smokes, Frank Doutrich, Scott Fredrick and Ed Lentz for showing up, speaking up and cheering us on. Thank you to Police Chief Holly Arndt for her openness with the public and the press.
Thank you to The Columbia Spy, whose work encouraged us to do our best. Columbia is better with more than one set of eyes on it.
And thank you to the local officials who called us “bloggers.” You gave us something to prove. Bloggers don’t usually come with a press line and a print run, but we’re happy to be both.
To everyone else we’ve forgotten to name: you know who you are, and we’re grateful.
How to reach us
Tips, letters, story ideas and ad questions are always welcome.
- Text (preferred) or call: 717-366-0037
- Email: editor@thecolumbiachronicle.com
- Online: thecolumbiachronicle.com
Here for the long haul
This is just the start. We plan to keep showing up, keep asking questions and keep putting Columbia first. We look forward to serving you for many years to come.
