It’s no secret that newsrooms around the country are seeing tectonic shifts in how they deliver the news and how it is consumed. When I first started in this business, we were still setting type with hot lead and reporters used typewriters.
The press ran one time and readers had a summary of everything happening in one edition.
Today, with our online news site, we have multiple deadlines bringing you locally breaking news as soon as we can. When the recent snowstorms hit, we presented you with the latest traffic news, forecasts, photos of the storm and warnings. And we kept at it all day. No waiting until the next morning.
We’ve also added the E-Edition, which provides subscribers not only with an archive of all the stories we’ve published in the last 30 days, but email alerts when topics of interest are published.
Now, as people change the way they get their information, we have responded again. Starting today, smart phone users can see the latest news and sports on our new mobile Web site. No need for a special URL; just use www.mankatofreepress.com and it will redirect to the mobile standard.
We’ve found that Android is strong in this area, not surprising given the presence of Verizon. But we have found people with iPads are finding their way to our site. Well, those people who are also subscribers can retrieve the E-Edition replica of the print edition from our mobile site too. The link is found at the bottom of the page.
We soon will have free apps available for your iPhone, Droid, Blackberry and the iPad.
The Free Press has come a long way since those hot metal days. We need to respond faster to differing ways people enjoy getting their information. Our website is the leader in online traffic for regional news in the Valley. Our two magazines — The Mankato Magazine and the MN Valley Business Magazine — continue to gain popularity and appreciation. And our agricultural publication, The Land, continues to deliver its special appeal to our Minnesota and Iowa communities.
But the digital arena is where we continue to push the boundaries — establishing social media networks with Facebook and Twitter. We also are in a partnership to bring you events on www.greatermankatoevents.com And recently we unveiled a new service called VisitMankato.com for your shopping needs. We have so many various offerings we had to change our name to The Free Press Media. We do this so we can remain the largest and best media source for news, information and advertising in the region.
Our mobile site, just like our website, will be supported by advertisers, as is our print edition. As we deliver news to you, we grow and our advertisers receive the best place to bring their message to you.
As we continue to point out in our print advertisements, we urge you to support these advertisers.
Newspapers cannot exist on subscriptions or newsstand charges alone.
Our award-winning news team is transforming and working harder to bring you the news faster and in various options — including photos and video. And now straight to your smart phone.
We are committed to remaining the best source for news, information and advertising. That means we will continue to address the various ways you want to find those sources. We thank you for continuing to support The Free Press and watch for more changes that are bound to come.
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