In this age of changing media, your community newspaper is going through its own changes.
The media landscape has been revolutionized in recent years and at the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News, we have positioned ourselves to make use of that new technology to serve our readers better. More than a decade ago now, we started with a website, posting a sampling of stories and pictures – copying, pasting and clicking – after our print deadlines.
But all that has changed, as has technology, and now we post to a new digital platform and push stories to our new website, which launched on Friday last week, first, as well as social media channels.
We remain dedicated to delivering the traditional newspaper that’s so familiar to many, and remain proud of the printed product we delivery twice weekly, as well as keeping you up to date with breaking news and local stories on the digital front.
“We are excited to bring to our readers the evolution of news media on whatever device or platform you prefer,” Lisa Prophet-Craik, publisher. “This is an exciting time to be in the news industry and we are committed to bringing the best to our readers. We welcome you to our newly launched website and encourage you to become familiar with the changes we have implemented.”
But there’s been a shift in readership. Today, many people consume their news and information differently than a decade ago – reading the newspaper or by digital device - phone, tablet and laptop. We recognize that some people want information immediately, and we provide that.
The average smartphone user picks up their phone at least 150 times a day – once every nine minutes. It’s even taken over from the desktop – or laptop – computer.
Our new website (mapleridgenews.com) reflects that, resizing to whatever screen size you are using automatically, bringing you the news, information, videos and advertising in the way you want it.
It does so in a nicer looking, better organized layout that is easy to navigate.
But it’s not just a matter of delivery, it’s also a matter of what’s being delivered.
We will deliver a bigger and better news experience by making use of new, powerful publishing technology.
Our digital platform means our news staff have had to change their way of thinking, as well, to give you what you have demonstrated you want.
We are no longer weekly newspaper reporters with a couple of deadlines per week. We are now a daily – even hourly – news team.
As soon as news comes in, our digital platform gives us the ability to deliver it to you within minutes.
And it’s not just the words. It’s not just stories. Our new website platform will have more video and more ways to play it.
And our video material is available through a concurrent video channel called BPTV (Black Press TV). BPTV will have an extensive reach in its own right, bringing video content to all devices and platforms.
We’ll also make use of our extensive social media audience. Our stories – your stories – will be shared far and wide on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For advertisers, our digital technology gives local businesses a massive reach. Advertisers will be able to put their ads across thousands of sites. Advertisers can target ideal customers based on age, gender, location, home address, even native language.
They can also target audiences based on what those audiences are doing via search history, online content consumption, transactions, browsing behaviour and clicks.
Those customers will be attracted to the news and information – the content – on the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News’ website, because the paper that has been delivering local news since 1978 has stepped up to new digital technology to deliver it the way readers have shown they want it. We are a print and digital media provider.
And that means we will continue to deliver it for many more years to come.
In the end, it’s still about news, sports, entertainment, community events and people. So don’t be shy, share your tips, photographs and video’s with us online 24/7. It’s just that now you’ll get more of it and sooner.
The News is in the palm of your hand.