The Monument Newspaper and Current Publishing have merged. This week, Current Publisher Lee Hews Casler and Monument Newspaper Publisher Elizabeth Prata announce that The Monument has joined the growing family of seven newspapers Current Publishing produces.
“The union will allow the Monument Newspaper to benefit from the resources that Current Publishing has developed to support its other weekly newspapers while continuing to maintain its individuality in the Gray/New Gloucester communities,” Prata said.
“The Monument Newspaper will be bigger, stronger, and have more horsepower. That translates to better service and more opportunities to present quality articles, news, and information for the loyal readers in Gray and New Gloucester and beyond,” Prata added. “It also provides for the prospect of increased advertising opportunities.”
The transaction also means that Current Publishing is entering a contiguous market that will allow better coordination of news coverage and ad sales. Prata will continue to be a full-time journalist and will continue to cover Gray and New Gloucester as she has for six years.
The Monument was started by Prata in 2000 as a bi-weekly with a circulation of 3,500. In that time the paper has grown to a weekly with a circulation of 6,000. The Monument has won the New England Press Association (NEPA) Better Newspaper Award three times in four tries, once in its first year of publication for General Excellence in Advertising, and for Best Editorial and Best Editorial Writer. The Monument’s editor, Prata, is a member of NEPA and the Society of Professional Journalists. Prata has also served on the State of Maine Freedom of Access Study Committee, a special committee formed by the Maine Legislature to increase public access to government information.
“The Current Publishing Company’s focus on community newspapering fits with my focus, and I am excited to continue to report on the issues of importance in Gray and New Gloucester, while joining the Current Publishing family,” said Prata.
“Elizabeth has done a fabulous job with The Monument. I am truly honored that she has chosen us as publishers going forward. Our goal is to support The Monument as it continues to grow and strive for editorial excellence,” said Publisher Lee Hews Casler.
Current Publishing also announced in April that it will begin publishing a community newspaper covering Sanford, Springvale, Acton and Lebanon. With a circulation of 14,000, The Weekly Observer has joined Current Publishing’s family as the seventh paper in the group. With The Monument, the Current Publishing weekly newspapers will reach more than 45 communities in southern and western Maine, reaching about 175,000 local readers. In addition to these weekly newspapers, Current Publishing has an online community at www.keepmecurrent.com.
Current Publishing produces The Current, serving Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland; the American Journal, serving Westbrook, Gorham and Buxton; The Lakes Region Suburban Weekly, serving Windham, Raymond, Standish and Naples; the Sun Chronicle, serving Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Biddeford; The Reporter, serving Waterboro, Alfred, Limerick, Lyman, Newfield and Shapleigh; The Citizen, serving Cornish, Parsonsfield, Porter, Baldwin, Bridgton, Brownfield, Denmark, Fryeburg, Hiram, Kezar Falls and Limington, The Weekly Observer, covering Sanford, Springvale, Acton and Lebanon and The Monument, serving Gray and New Gloucester.
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