All Sun-Times News Group Daily Newspapers Have Now Been Converted To New, Easier-To-Handle Tabloid Format While Delivering The Most Comprehensive News And Many Great Opportunities For Advertisers
The Herald-News, the award-winning paper of record for Joliet and surrounding communities, today introduced its exciting new tabloid format with the same great offerings of local news, spirited opinion and local features its loyal readers expect seven days a week.
Today, home delivery customers got a first look at the new newspaper, which featured a front-page, communitywide call to action to stop the gang violence that has escalated in Joliet this year.
The front-page editorial tips off a series of stories, reader surveys, editorials and community events, and is just one example of The Herald-News’ powerful commitment to in-depth news coverage, community advocacy and watchdog reporting.
The Herald-News launch completes a plan to convert the daily newspaper network owned by the Sun-Times News Group into tabloid format from broadsheet format.
The Sun-Times News Group’s dailies include The Beacon-News, Chicago Sun-Times, The Courier-News, Lake County News-Sun, the Naperville Sun, the Post-Tribune and the SouthtownStar.
Specifically, The Courier-News was converted in January; SouthtownStar in August; Beacon-News in September; Post-Tribune on Oct. 5, and The Herald-News today.
The Sun-Times News Group also owns tabloid-sized weeklies published by Pioneer Press and Fox Valley Publications.
“This exciting announcement is further confirmation of our goal to provide the very best local news and entertainment to our readers in the greater Chicago region,” said Rick Surkamer, President and Chief Operating Officer of Sun-Times Media Group, Inc., which owns the Sun-Times News Group network of newspapers and Web sites.
“Our network of publications is now 100 percent tabloid with this launch, providing us with a very flexible platform for our advertising clients to reach consumers and setting us up for future success.
I want to thank my fellow employees who have worked so hard to have completed this aggressive schedule of conversion of our print products to a standard format, and enhanced our top-notch local news coverage.”
The Herald-News’ Web site, heraldnewsonline.com, has been enhanced to place a greater emphasis on up-to-the-minute local news.
Readers can receive breaking news as it happens in Joliet and surrounding communities including Plainfield, Shorewood, Lockport, Romeoville, Homer Glen, New Lenox, Morris, Minooka, Channahon, Coal City, Wilmington, Braidwood, Gardner, Elwood, Manhattan, Frankfort, Mokena, Crest Hill and Rockdale.
To receive e-mail or text updates, sign up at heraldnewsonline.com. Subscribers can also manage their subscriptions online.
“We are excited to provide our readers and advertisers with a new and enhanced version of The Herald-News, while continuing our strong tradition of in-depth news for our readers and superior customer service to our advertisers,” said Fred Lebolt, President and Publisher of The Herald-News.
“The compact, portable format is perfect for people on the go who don’t want to miss a bit of local news.”
“The Herald-News’ new slogan, ‘Champion For Your Community,’ is not only emblazoned on the cover of this new tab-size paper, but it is at the core of The Herald-News mission and its redesign,” said Rick Nagel, Vice President, Editorial, for The Herald-News.
“Our pledge to readers is that we will cover Joliet and surrounding communities in print and online better than anyone else. We are looking forward to getting our readers’ feedback on the improved newspaper and online news.”
Advertisers will have new opportunities available to them, said Steve Vanisko, Advertising Director for The Herald-News.
“Our advertisers have shown tremendous enthusiasm for the enhancements we’ve made, and we are delighted to continue to work with them to reach their target customers,” said Mr. Vanisko.
“Our advertisers will have many exciting choices, from increased advertising possibilities and more premium placement opportunities. In addition, the new tabloid design helps to increase the impact each ad will have on a page.”
About The Herald-News
Although the first issue of the Joliet News hit the streets in 1877 and the Joliet Herald was first published in 1904, The Herald-News traces it roots to April 20, 1839, when a group of residents of the tiny town of Juliet (named after the daughter of one of the founders) launched the weekly Juliet Courier.
When the city’s name was changed to Joliet about five years later in honor of the great French explorer Louis Joliet, the paper changed hands and became the Joliet Signal. Col. Ira C. Copley purchased The Herald in 1913 and added the printing equipment and circulation lists of The News to his company in 1915, when he merged the two papers to create the Herald News.
In 1974, to reflect the increased circulation in fast-growing Will and Grundy counties, Joliet was dropped from the masthead and the paper became known as The Herald-News.
Today, The Herald-News serves nearly 40 communities in one of the fastest growing areas in the United States.
About Sun-Times Media Group
Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. is dedicated to being the premier source of local news and information for the greater Chicago area.
Its media properties include the Chicago Sun-Times and Suntimes.com as well as newspapers and websites serving more than 300 communities across Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
Further information can be found at thesuntimesgroup.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tammy Chase, 312-321-3230
tchase@suntimes.com
Sun-Times Media Group, Inc.
