By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor
The Pittsburgh media scene was rocked this past month as the city learned it would be losing two of its major news outlets.
The Pittsburgh City Paper, an alt-weekly publication, was closed at the end of December, while the closure of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, set to occur in May, was announced on Jan. 7.
When The Post-Gazette closes, it will bring an end to 240 years of history. It will also make Pittsburgh the biggest city in the United States without a major daily newspaper to call its own.
While Pittsburgh will still have plenty of newspapers to call its own — including we here at The Northside Chronicle — the loss of both these publications is a keenly felt one in the media world. We here at The Chronicle do our best to highlight all of the major stories taking place on the Northside, but as a small monthly, we do not have the same resources or timeliness as The Post-Gazette has.
The closure is not a certain thing. Already efforts have been launched to save The Post-Gazette or replace it in some way, shape or form. According to WESA, Pittsburgh’s NPR station, former Pittsburgh Penguins President of Business Operations Kevin Acklin has expressed interest in converting the newspaper into a nonprofit, much like how The Northside Chronicle has been operating.
But if the closure does come to pass, it will represent a major loss of information in the City of Pittsburgh, one which will be difficult to fill.
However, we here at The Northside Chronicle will strive to fill it all the same.
It’s not going to be a quick or easy process, but we will aim to redouble our efforts. Get more news into each edition. Be there for the stories other publications won’t cover. Because the Northside deserves to have a spotlight shined on it, to not be forgotten by the rest of the city.
But we can’t get there without your support.
If you care about the loss of local media. If you care about ensuring the best aspects of the Northside get their due attention. Or if you even just enjoy reading us, please consider supporting The Northside Chronicle, to make sure Allegheny City doesn’t lose its only news publication.
Subscriptions are the best way to do so, and can be done online at thenorthsidechronicle.com or filling out the form on page 2 of any print edition.
If you’re not ready to subscribe, you can also contact us about making a onetime donation of any amount. Even just $5 of support means a lot to us.
If you’re a local business owner, please consider advertising in our pages or on our digital platforms.
You can also support The Chronicle in non-financial ways. We try to keep our ears to the ground on all things happening on the Northside, but some things slip through the cracks. Ensure that doesn’t happen by dropping us a news tip, either on our website or by emailing editor@thenorthsidechronicle. com. If there’s a story you would especially like to see covered, letting us know about it is the best way to make sure that happens.
The next few months are going to be full of uncertainty. But you can count on The Northside Chronicle being there to continue bringing you all the most important news in our great neighborhood.
