Wow! What a week it’s been.
Let’s get right to it. Things have been pretty much non-stop here at the Gazette since the beginning of February.
We set some new records, broke some big stories and had some fun along the way. More about all that in just a moment.
Our promise to you:
A lot of media outlets – large and small – often brag about their commitment to local, community journalism.
At the Gazette, community journalism is much more than just a slogan. It’s a proven track record of being embedded in the community; a promise to always be accessible to everyone on both our website and on the Biddeford Gazette’s social media pages, including our Facebook page.
Never a charge or fee for subscriptions.
We are the only news outlet in southern Maine that actively shares and promotes news about Biddeford from other professional media outlets, including Saco Bay News, the Portland Press Herald, MaineBiz, WGME-TV or WMTW-TV.
Why do we do that? Because we care more about you than about silly competition with other news outlets. That philosophy is embedded in our mission statement.
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to find news and information that impacts Biddeford, no matter where that news is generated.
And when we do share items from our news partners, we make sure those stories are clearly labeled and linked to their originating source.
Speaking of slogans:
A couple of weeks ago we asked our readers for suggestions regarding a potential tagline for the Gazette. We were looking for something unique, something that defines our mission and principles – what sets us apart.
We received dozens of suggestions from our readers: some funny, some serious. But each one of them showed that readers were willing to take time to connect with us for nothing more than the possibility of scoring a dozen donuts from Reilly’s Bakery.
I am pleased to announce that we have a winner. It was me.
Don’t worry, we’re still going through the suggestions to determine who was the runner-up, and who will get to enjoy the tasty treats we promised from Reilly’s.
In fact, it was thoughts about Reilly’s Bakery that inspired what will be our tagline going forward.
Reilly’s is a Biddeford institution built on a legacy that stretches over decades. It is a small, independent bakery focused on quality and customer service.
What sets the Gazette apart from all the others? Simply this: Experience and the community’s trust that has been developed over decades of covering Biddeford news and politics.
I have been covering Biddeford longer than any other journalist actively working today. Nearly 30 years of climbing those wooden creaky stairs at City Hall. No one else even comes close.
Hence, our new tagline:
THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
A media partnership with . . . you
Between Feb. 1 and Feb. 12, we published a total of 22 items on our website, including news and feature stories, guest columns and two weekly obituary updates. That’s more than a 250 percent increase over the same time period last year, and does not include things such as our EVENTS page and BUSINESS listings
But here’s the really exciting part: 40 percent of that recent news and feature material was generated by people in the community, not us.
The community is engaging with the Gazette, and that’s the way we want it. I am excited about this, very excited. All indicators show that we’re on a good trajectory, including our growing list of subscribers and increased traffic on our website.
Some irony, a political shakeup and what’s next
Most journalists go through their whole life without ever being able to write a headline like the one I wrote yesterday: Firefighters fight fire at fire department
Fortunately, no one was hurt but the smoke damage was extensive.
We were honored that the Speaker of the House, State Rep. Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford asked the Gazette if he could submit his column about recent ICE activity in Maine for publication on our site.
On a similar note, former mayor Marty Grohman asked us to publish his recent op-ed about artificial intelligence and its potential benefit for Maine communities. Both State Sen. Henry Ingwersen and State Rep. Marc Malon publish their monthly columns in the Gazette.
We sincerely appreciate their trust and confidence.
And in this corner . . .
Speaking of Marc Malon, it looks like he may face a challenge in his reelection bid for a third term as Biddeford’s District 133 representative. Veteran City Councilor Marc Lessard told us he is giving serious consideration to running for the seat as an unenrolled candidate. This could be the first time that Malon is challenged for his seat.
I think that’s good news. I like Marc Malon. I think he does a decent job and truly cares about the people he represents, but it’s always better for voters if they have options. And we care more about the voters than the politicians.
Two good guys going toe-to-toe. Could be interesting.
I’m outta room. Good stuff coming down the pike! Kiss someone today and celebrate Valentine’s Day!
P.S. I talked a lot about journalism in this week’s newsletter. If you’d like to see a list of my 12 all-time favorite journalists, hop over to my personal blog Lessons in Mediocrity and check out The List. You will probably recognize some of the names and faces.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He has been covering Biddeford news and politics for nearly three decades. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE |A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
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