As we went to print with Atlanta Intown’s 30th anniversary issue, Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism released its latest “State of Local News Report.” The findings were stark: fewer than 5,600 newspapers remain in the U.S., a collapse of print media that outpaces previous predictions.
Since its launch three decades ago, this paper’s mission has remained constant: deliver non-sensational news that connects neighbors and builds community.
When Chris Schroder launched “Atlanta 30306” in 1994, the media landscape looked very different. We relied on the morning paper to learn who won last night’s game, and The Atlanta Journal still landed on doorsteps in the afternoon.
Now, four owners later, Intown has not only survived, but we are defying industry trends and thriving in print, online, and through our email newsletters.
When I acquired the paper in 2020, some people said I was crazy (many others undoubtedly thought it, but were too polite to say so), and they may be right. But, along with my lifelong media obsession and a desire to be engaged in the local community, I saw a great brand, product, and team that only needed a few tweaks to capitalize on the opportunity to grow.
We are on track to have our fourth consecutive year of revenue and audience growth, and we have almost doubled our investment in editorial staff since 2020.
Digital-first, but true to print
We evolved how we deliver news, but not why we cover it – from the essential stories about education and local government, to the arts, restaurants, and real estate coverage our readers crave.
Stories now appear first on our website and in daily newsletters, but our monthly print paper fills a unique role in this era of infinite choices, information overload, and partisan division. Despite their reach, digital platforms can’t replicate the neighborhood connections fostered by a thoughtfully curated community paper delivered to your mailbox. In an age of AI and influencers, something is reassuring about receiving a free publication crafted by your neighbors.
Meaningful not massive
While many national publications chase scale and clicks, we focus on serving our core communities with intention. Our print distribution targets Atlanta’s most engaged and influential neighborhoods, and our dedicated and talented team, led by Collin Kelley, brings decades of knowledge to every issue.
Inimitable Senior Dining Editor Beth McKibben lives and breathes (and eats) Atlanta’s dynamic food scene daily, and award-winning columnist Sally Bethea literally drinks the water she expertly writes about.
This expertise, combined with our collaborations with other local media organizations, creates a better product for our readers and a clearer path to business sustainability.
What’s ahead?
While we will continue to invest in our digital products, I expect that our print model will survive well into the future. Like many media companies, we are exploring ways to activate events for our readers and are always looking to add more diverse voices and pilot things like audio, video, and new coverage areas.
How you can help
Local journalism thrives through community support. Here are three ways you can help ensure we’re around for another 30 years:
1) Support our advertisers: When you find your dream home or discover a new school, event, or exhibit, let them know you saw their ad in Atlanta Intown.
2) Subscribe to our newsletters: Our morning Rough Draft newsletter offers a clever, curated, and concise look at what you need to know each day. Text DRAFT to 66866 to subscribe. We also offer afternoon newsletters focused on arts, film, food, and more.
3) Become a member: If you value what we do, consider a contribution at roughdraftatlanta.com/membership.
Congratulations to the entire Atlanta Intown family from 1994 to today, and thank you for your continued support of local journalism.
INTOWN @ 30: Read more feature stories from Atlanta Intown’s 30th anniversary issue here.