And now, with its second anniversary on June 10, the Citizen announces the launch of a new and improved Web site, the formation of its own distribution company, Citizen Distribution Inc., and a new initiative to bring a solid business and finance section, called “The PULSE on Lake Norman Business,” to further enhance the paper’s Keep It Local campaign. The new section will provide content in partnership with the small businesses that not only serve our local residents, but are owned by them as well.
“For the first two years of our existence, we were focused solely on building a solid product that would not only be well received, but also highly respected in the community,” says Citizen Publisher Kim Clark. “We felt this was the ideal time not only to further enhance our product, but also to explore new avenues through which we would better serve our community. This is the very essence of local newspapers, being an integral part of community.”
Here is a summary of what readers can expect to see in the coming weeks:
Distribution
Until recently, the Citizen was delivered solely through the U.S. Postal Service and limited racks in the region. Although the newspaper very much appreciates the service provided by the Postal Service, federal postal regulations posed challenges in delivering the Citizen to some specific locations.
That’s why Citizen Media Inc. formed Citizen Distribution, LLC. Under the direction of Chris Mulcahy, the new distribution company will allow the Lake Norman Citizen to better control its delivery and to increase circulation.
The new company will also offer delivery services to local businesses for distribution of their materials to residential and commercial addresses throughout the region.
For more information, contact Mulcahy at 704-517-1986 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Web site
Until now, lakenormancitizen.com has served as more of an online archive for stories printedin the Lake Norman Citizen. The Web site is being completely redesigned by Red Hot Marketingand Design, and will provide users with much more interactive capability. The new Web site,scheduled to launch this month, will also serve as another option for companies to advertise theirgoods and services.
The Web site includes reader forums, a pdf version of each issue of the newspaper, and manymore interactive features that will continue to be developed over time. An enhanced searchfeature will also make it easier for users to access archived stories.
A new ‘Pulse’
Small, locally owned businesses are the pulse of the Lake Norman community. They work inharmony with larger companies to provide goods and services for their employees, many ofwhom call our region home. They add color and texture to the tapestry of our towns and are theheart of the economic engine that drives the community.
The Citizen is forming a task force to launch a new, interactive feature, PULSE on LakeNorman Business, which will be comprised of local business leaders.
“Nobody has their finger on the pulse of local business better than those who are in businesshere, and we want to not only know what they think, but we also want their help in customizing abusiness section that serves not only them, but our readers as well,” says Clark. “More than thisnew initiative, we plan to incorporate the ‘pulse’ theme throughout our product line.”
Through a partnership with Carolina Business Associates’ principal Joe Vagnone, the Citizenwill endeavor to work together with businesses to help inform them and the community about thelatest trends, the newest products and services and write about some of the interesting storiesbehind the storefronts.
Citizen Contributing Editor Lori Helms will be the staff lead for PULSE
“We believe these new additions will not only help us to provide more and better service to theconsumers of our product, but to further strengthen our position as the preferred source of newsand information in the Lake Norman area,” says Clark. “We not only want to be responsive to theneeds of our readers and our advertisers, but to also work in partnership with the communitywhere we live, work and play.”
