40 years later - The Press Newspapers: A look at the company today

This market area of 24 communities spans parts of Lucas, Wood, Ottawa and Sandusky counties. It is bounded by the Maumee River on the west, the Portage River on the east, Lake Erie on the north and Gibsonburg on the south.PressbyNumbersChart1

Today, as The Press celebrates its 40th anniversary, it has expanded from its start-up paper--The Suburban Press with a circulation of 13,000--to two editions delivered to more than 34,000 homes and businesses. The Metro edition is delivered to Oregon, East Toledo, Jerusalem Township and Northwood; the Suburban edition to Curtice, Elmore, Genoa, Gibsonburg, Millbury, Oak Harbor, Pemberville, Walbridge, Woodville and surrounding communities.

In addition, The Press publishes magazines and tabs for special events. Some of these have included gloss-cover magazines for The Biggest Week in American Birding; The 50th Anniversary of the City of Oregon and the 75th Anniversary of Pearson Park. Other projects include publications for The East Toledo Family Center’s 125th Anniversary, the Ottawa County Junior Livestock Sale, the annual directory for the Eastern Maumee Bay Chamber of Commerce and a Medical Directory in conjunction with The Beacon, a weekly newspaper that covers the Eastern end of Ottawa County. The Press also publishes the Maumee Bay Tourist Guide and school newspapers for Oregon, Lake and Northwood.

The Press offers readers and clients an affordable opportunity to connect with the largest group of consumers in a market area that is only partially covered by four daily newspapers and seven phone books.Press40thGeneralmgr1

Readers and small business clients have responded to the vision that this market area needed an outlet to celebrate family milestones, sell goods and services and voice displeasure with local government. Each week, The Press publishes some 232 display ads and 172 classified ads in its two editions. Four editors and numerous freelance writers cover the 24 communities and 10 school districts in the Press distribution area.

Reader support has allowed The Press to fulfill its watchdog role on local government as well as provide readers with timely information on health, entertainment, education and family issues. The Press news staff has won more than 180 awards for its government and investigative reporting, feature writing and in-depth stories from professional organizations such as the Ohio Newspaper Association, the Ohio Chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists, Women in Communications, the Independent Free Papers of America and the Cleveland Press Club. Press editor Kelly Kaczala and freelance journalist Melissa Burden also were the recipients of a 2011 Touchstone Award from the Toledo Press Club for their investigative reporting.

In addition to its print publications, The Press provides the community with information and a forum for reader views through its website and Facebook pages.

The Press employs 15 and has an independent carrier force of 72.

The papers are owned by Douthit Communications Inc., a Sandusky firm which operates a web-offset printing plant. The company also publishes seven weekly newspapers in the Cleveland area, Homes Illustrated magazines and has developed advertising software for the real estate market.

The Press

The Press
1550 Woodville Road
Millbury, OH 43447

(419) 836-2221

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Ohio News Media Association