This week marks three years since the Kingsville Times came into existence. At first it was only on Facebook, but within a few weeks, the Times had its own website.
When the idea of launching a local, online newspaper was first hatched, I was intrigued. Mary Ellen and I came at this project with two very different skill sets and different types of experience which meant that, between the two of us, maybe we could make it work.
Mary Ellen has an operational and management background with the federal government and with foreign governments. She is multi-talented, adept at germinating ideas and carrying them out, creating plans and organizing every step to her goals.
I bring with me about 20 years of experience online, writing, editing and publishing for various organizations. The first couple of websites were my own, partnering with my husband Alan Smith. Later I wrote mostly health and wellness articles for several companies that had web presence.
What drew me in to the notion of working on a local online newspaper, though, was none of that. I’m a pretty good speller and catch typos many people might miss. And I hate ’em. I volunteered to help with editing the Kingsville Times so I wouldn’t have to see too many typos (other than my own).
Looking back over the past three years with the Times, I’m astonished by how things have developed and grown.
People in this community and across the county, as well as service groups and other local organizations, have been coming to us with their stories and their photos. Media releases from area town councils as well as provincial and federal news sources cross our desk on a regular basis, adding further relevant content for our readers.
Starting out as we did in the early days of COVID made things extra interesting. Everything had to be done online. I still have not met many of our contributors in person — but I will!
Fortunately, most of my past work was done remotely, with head offices in far-flung locations like Arizona, Nevada and the UK. Mary Ellen has also had a great deal of experience in long-distance communications, often working remotely from far-flung locations, predominantly across the African continent.
Our original goal was to ensure that our community could continue to receive interesting and informative news in the void created by the closure of our beloved town paper, the Kingsville Reporter. Based on reader growth and feedback, we believe we are helping to fill that gap.
To our many readers, near and far, thank you for supporting us in this endeavour. We value your input and feedback as we continue to find new and improved ways to serve you.
Photo by George Dolgikh from Pexels
It was timely that you started during COVID-19 and local support of newsworthy articles and your tenacity that has allowed you 3 years of service. Thank you for your continuous efforts to keep us informed. Wishing you every success.
Hi Mary Ann
Covid certainly made things interesting. Thank goodness for the internet!
We appreciate your words of encouragement. We will continue to do our best.
Jody
Congratulations on your spectacular achievement…keeping Kingsville people’s informed. You two are a great pair..on behalf of the Arts Society of Kingsville, we thank you for the publishing of Art Scoop and exhibit information.. stories about local talented artists and how they were inspired. We were thrilled to get their stories out there.
You are the best source of information ..a daunting task in our era of information overload . Your articles highlight events, medical articles, reports from many local organizations . So glad people from several groups in our community approach you now with their stories and announcement.
You’re brief, you’re objective, and your publications are so accurate with A+ spelling and grammatical structures!! Thank you for undertaking the Kingsville Times and sharing the story of your history.
Hi Candace
Thank you for your high praise! and thank you for spelling out (see what I did there? Editor humour) what you see as our strong suits and achievements thus far.
We are amazed at having hit three years, and are planning on keeping at it all.
I particularly appreciate your mention of the excellent spelling and grammar that is our hallmark.:)
Jody
Thank you, for keeping us informed. Great job
Thank you so much Nadine.:)
Jody
As a new resident in Kingsville (2019), I was glad to discover The Kingsville Times. It is a great source of info. on what is happening in the community. I have also used your platform to spread events of the Horticultural Society and have had good feedback from that. Here’s to many more years of success!
We’re glad to know that the Times has helped you to feel at home here. And we’ve appreciated your input for articles about the Horticultural Society.
Thanks Jan.:)
Jody
Well thank you Margie.:)
Jody
BRAVO … much thanks to you both ! !