Happy anniversary...to us.
Next Wednesday, Nov. 11, will mark the
15th anniversary of the publication of the first
issue of the Cooperstown Crier.
In 1994, we started out in a tiny office in The
Stables building on Main St., before moving to
a larger Main St. location after six months. A
little over five years ago, we moved to our
current location on Railroad Avenue.
The paper has changed in many ways over
the past decade and a half, both technologically
and content-wise. We started with just three
computers for four people, and of course did not
have a website or the internet. There have been
some constants as well, including columnist
Jim Atwell and editors Eric Ahlqvist and Jim
Austin, who have all been here for most of the
Crier’s existence.
What has not changed is our mission: To
provide an informative, entertaining newspaper
which helps lend perspective to local events.
When we began this paper, it was not without
questions. But we felt that this area was in
need of a good weekly newspaper, we think we
have provided one, and hope to continue to fill
that niche for years to come. In fact, we’re now
the longest running continuously published
weekly newspaper in Otsego County. (The
Freeman’s Journal has been around longer but
went out of business for a couple of years in the
1990s.)
We’ve had some recognition, winning in
excess of 25 New York State Press Association
Awards, ranging from editorial writing, school
coverage, photography, sports, and, of course,
our most decorated winner, columnist Jim
Atwell, in the years we were eligible for the
competition.
Our editors have a combined 28 years of
service to the Crier, allowing us to write more
informed stories as well.
At the beginning of 2010, our readers will
notice a redesign to the Town Crier which we’re
confident our readers will enjoy.
Of course, we couldn’t be successful without
our readers. Give us a call (547-9493), send us
a fax (547-1109), or e-mail (crier@csdsl.net),
and let us know what’s happening.
We like to think we put out a quality
newspaper week in and week out, making us
the largest circulation weekly in Otsego County.
For that, we say thank you to our readers, and
we look forward to the next 15 years.
