GRANTS PASS --               The Daily Courier, Grants Pass’s local newspaper, has plans to expand its news coverage into the Medford and Ashland area. This comes after the long-time newspaper, The Mail Tribune, shut down its operations on Friday.
The Daily Courier made this announcement of expanding their news coverage last Wednesday, saying “The Daily Courier is acting quickly to increase its investments in Jackson County.” The paper says they can ensure the Courier can start reporting more on Medford and Ashland news within the coming weeks.
Daily Courier’s Publisher Travis Moore says when the Mail Tribune stopped publishing print newspaper last fall, the Courier saw hundreds of new subscribers from the Medford area.
“Since last Wednesday, we've had hundreds of people sign up for online subscriptions and hundreds more call to inquire about getting print subscriptions,” says Moore.
The Daily Courier is attempting to hire some of the Mail Tribune journalists to make this transition as quick as possible.
“We will announce the hiring of a former Mail Tribune reporter on Tuesday. It is someone all former Mail Tribune readers will definitely recognize,” says Moore. All week the Courier will be conducting interviews. He says they plan on hiring three new newsroom staff as soon as possible and expanding from there as circulation and advertising increase.
With more coverage comes more mail distribution routes in Medford, this will take time says Moore.
“Within two months we were distributing nearly 500 more papers per day down there than we had before. We currently have four routes in Medford, and Ashland and should have another soon,” says Moore.
The Daily Courier has been around for 138 years, serving quality community journalism in the Grants Pass area. Moore says the Courier’s staff is looking forward to serving the new subscribers of the Medford and Ashland area.
“I want to thank everyone for their patience. With the hundreds of people calling for new subscriptions and with questions, it's a bit overwhelming,” Moore says overall the goal is to become the Rogue Valley’s daily newspaper.
Moore says with the number of readers they expect to get in the Medford area, “It will make the Courier an even more attractive advertising option for all Rogue Valley businesses.” People interested in advertising can contact the Daily Courier at (541) 474 – 3807 and people interested in subscribing to their newspaper can call (541) 474 – 3702.
