HOT PURSUIT

One of those life lessons that I’ve been frequently reminded about over the years is that hard work will eventually pay off in big ways.

And that certainly has been the case at the Steele County Times recently.

Last week I shared with you about how our newspaper earned the distinction of being one of the best newspapers in the country by capturing general excellence in the National Newspaper Association’s annual contest.

Perhaps the announcement I have for you this week excites me even more than any award ever will.

For the first time ever, this newspaper has become Steele County’s top choice for local news. There are some hard facts to back up this claim.

Each fall newspapers are required by the U.S. Postal Service to file a Statement of Ownership. Along with general information about the newspaper, owners also have to report their circulation numbers for a 12-month average and the exact number closest to the filing date, which in this case is Oct. 1.

I’m thrilled to report that our circulation has topped what once had been a powerhouse in Steele County, the Owatonna Peoples Press. Total paid distribution for Steele County Times is 2,927 compared to 2,411 for OPP.

Over the past two years alone, our circulation has grown by nearly 50%.

What has transpired is almost like a David vs. Goliath moment. Judging from the circulation numbers, what once had been a little weekly newspaper has now surpassed the big daily, though it’s not really a daily any longer.

I’m really not aware of a newspaper anywhere that has experienced the growth we’ve been fortunate to achieve.

I’ve been tracking circulation numbers for years. Back in 2011, OPP reported 7,272 circulation. That number has nosedived steadily with the steepest declines coming over the past three years.

Meanwhile, our circulation has gone from about 800 in 2011 to 2,927 this year.

As you may or may not know, providing the area’s best local news coverage isn’t a task we take lightly. We have a news and production staff with combined experience of more than 210 years. I’m proud to have the most experienced news staff of true journalists in the area.

While hard work and dedication by our staff have been big reasons for this accomplishment, we also recognize that it couldn’t be done without our loyal readers who have been with us for years and those who have recently started reading our newspaper.

From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful to our readers who have entrusted us to become their primary source for local news. We couldn’t do it without your support and only do it because we know how important local news is to our communities.

Thank you, readers. You have made this a fun and exciting venture for all of us. I hope you share in the excitement because this is your community newspaper.

If there is anything to take away from this, it’s simply that the Steele County Times is momentum worth reading.

And who wouldn’t want to go in hot pursuit of something as exciting as that?