Hello, Starkville.
The Starkville Dispatch begins publication today, offering a free news source to readers in Bulldog Country.
The new paper is a publication of The Commercial Dispatch in Columbus, and replaces The Commercial Dispatch in racks around town. The new paper will also be available in many more locations than the old Dispatch, and will be in the racks sooner.
The Starkville Dispatch will be available afternoons, Monday through Friday and on Sunday morning.
“In a time when most news about newspapers is doom and gloom, we hope this expansion will show that our industry is still alive and viable in the Golden Triangle,” said Dispatch Editor and Publisher Birney Imes. “Starkville is a dynamic community, and the distance separating it and Columbus seems to be shrinking all the time. Residents of both communities visit the other for work, entertainment, dining and education.”
Considering the pace of growth in Starkville, and The Dispatch”s position as a news source for the entire Golden Triangle, providing a more Starkville-focused publication makes sense, Imes said.
“For years The Dispatch has maintained a Starkville bureau, and we are frequently complimented on our Starkville and Mississippi State coverage,” Imes continued. “This has led us to take a more deliberate step into that market.”
As part of the new free strategy in Starkville, home delivery of The Commercial Dispatch will be discontinued to subscribers, in an effort to focus on delivering as many free papers throughout town as possible.
“We hope our paid subscribers will continue to pick up the paper for free in racks around town,” Imes said. “We may eventually restore paid home delivery, if demand warrants it.”
Starkville readers of The Commercial Dispatch will find much of the same news in the new Starkville version of the paper, with added emphasis on Starkville news, sports, and opinion. The Starkville Dispatch will continue to maintain its reporting bureau in downtown Starkville.
Starkville readers will also see more Starkville news than before, with community profiles and coverage of issues important to Starkville and Oktibbeha county.
Steve Mullen is Managing Editor of The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
