Living in LoCo
Blue Ridge Leader Publishes Last Edition
Erica Garman at 8:55 a.m., April 23, 2009 (10 comments)
Every day it seems as if another newspaper in America is closing down, and now it's happening to a Loudoun paper.
The Blue Ridge Leader, based in Purcellville, which has been providing community news to residents in western Loudoun, published its last edition yesterday. The final paper is scheduled to be delivered to mailboxes today.
"The business model just stopped being viable," said editor, columnist and Bluemont resident Mark Dewey in a phone interview yesterday. "Our advertising revenue fell, and the publisher just couldn't keep losing money."
Philip Y. Hahn founded the Blue Ridge Leader in 1984 and wrote most of the copy, Dewey said. When he passed away in March 2008, Hahn's wife, Jane Ann Simpson, took over as publisher.
"A few months ago, we were told there was a buyer for the paper," Dewey said. "But that fell through."
The seven staffers at the Blue Ridge Leader have been let go with the paper's demise.
How are other local papers doing?
Several weeks ago, I got a tip that the Loudoun Times Mirror had furloughed several of its staffers. Paul Smith, the paper's executive editor would not confirm any furloughs or reductions in staff, but he did say that LTM has consolidated much of its newsroom with staffers from its sister paper, the Fairfax Times. The same stories often appear in both papers, he said.
In February 2008, the Loudoun Independent filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to hold off creditors as it consolidated its debt. Loudoun-based M.C. Dean is bankrolling the newspaper now.. It introduced a much-improved Web site last month that features video front and center - a good move considering that newspapers are moving to a more interactive, online medium.
No word on the business climate at Leesburg Today, but it hasn't gone unnoticed that the glossy Loudoun Magazine, published by the same folks and published quarterly, has become much thinner than it once was.
As advertising revenues drop and costs of printing and postage increase, I wonder if we'll see yet another paper exit the Loudoun market. Let's hope not.
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I get two of these local papers. I don't know either of their names. One gets thrown on my sidewalk Wednesdays and one arrives in the mail at some point. The sidewalk one goes unopened right into the recycling bucket. I read the other one maybe once a month if I'm bored. I never subscribed to either. Who pays for them? I don't even want them. I couldn't care less if they went away. I'd rather read online where my fingers stay clean.
Posted by ms1234 (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad you don't have any pet birds or hamsters, ms1234 ... They make great cage liners
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's unfortunate news. Now Purcellville doesn't have a newspaper anymore. Best wishes to the staff in finding new jobs.
Posted by valandsend (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Purcellville has three weekly newspapers -- the Purcellville Gazette, Leesburg Today and the Loudoun Times Mirror. And, the Loudoun Extra section of the Washington Post.
Posted by LoudounModerate (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LoudounModerate, I meant Purcellville doesn't have its OWN newspaper anymore. Sorry that wasn't clear.
Posted by valandsend (anonymous) on April 24, 2009 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Purcellville Gazette has an office in Town.
Posted by LoudounModerate (anonymous) on April 25, 2009 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone with more than a thimble-full of discernment knows that neither the Blue Ridge Leader nor the Purcellville Gazette even begin to approach actual journalism. Sorry to say that even Leesburg Today's quality has dropped dramatically in the last few years. I really would love to see Loudoun County covered more thoroughly by the WaPo.
Posted by glastonbury27 (anonymous) on April 25, 2009 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And by the way -- did you notice the little "dig" against the Purcellville Gazette in the final edition of the Blue Ridge Leader today? How cheap!
Posted by glastonbury27 (anonymous) on April 25, 2009 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, Erica..
I noticed you didn't mention the gloomy situation at the Post.
Posted by jajack2 (anonymous) on April 27, 2009 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a journalism degree. I stand by my previous comment.
Posted by valandsend (anonymous) on April 27, 2009 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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