BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS FOUNDER
About this time seven years ago, I sat at the computer in my kitchen and created a Facebook page called Elmore/Autauga News.
I started writing for newspapers at just 16-years-old in Louisiana. I had known since I was three what I wanted to do “when I grew up.”
That means that I have been at this adventure officially for 37 years now. It has never been boring.
So, today as the EAN celebrates our seventh birthday, I just want to let our readers and advertisers know how much you are appreciated.
On that afternoon seven years ago, I can still remember why I created this page. I was very frustrated with news media in general and corporate media in particular. Local news didn’t get much publicity unless it involved a tragedy or a scandal. That just isn’t the way I look at covering a community.
I also figured this was my retirement hobby and thought if I could get around 1,000 likes I could use the page to spread ALL local news – the good, the bad and even the ugly when necessary. There was no plan to ever write more than three or four stories a week, and I didn’t even consider selling advertising. It was just going to be for fun.
I planned and God laughed, to be perfectly honest.
The page had over 1,000 likes in a matter of days and it has just exploded since that time.
Why is that? Because Local News Matters.
Today we have almost 40,000 that like or follow this page alone. As we grew we also created a website. Last month we reached over 700,000 different devices through the internet.
A few years ago I partnered with Carla Wilson. We combined forces as she took over the business side of the EAN and created the advertising department. I focused on the news. That is still how it operates today, and our growth has continued to explode.
Today we have a great office in Millbrook, actual paid employees, freelancers and staff meetings.
But I think back to those early days when Bob Ealum signed on to take pictures for me and we were the dynamic duo racing across two counties to cover what we could. I think about every single person who has stepped up over the years, writing or selling advertising, helping where they could.
The EAN would not be where we are today without every single person who ever played a part. You are appreciated!
I don’t have any big announcement on our birthday. I just wanted to say Thank You for reading and advertising. We will keep on keeping on as long as God allows it. I do think once we reach a milestone of 40,000 likes, I will plan something fun.
I do have a request. If you regularly follow the page, please click the like button. It really does matter, because the more reach we have, the more advertisers will potentially join the team. That gives us the ability to hire more reporters and staff. There is so much news out there that is positive and needs to be covered. We have a lot of folks that ask us to expand our coverage, and that is always a possibility down the line.
The bad news comes uninvited, I always say. Because it is true. Sometimes it is much more difficult to cover all of the good. We have so much good in our area, but we will never ignore the other issues that we know are important as well.
So, please keep reading! Tell your friends. We are more than just Facebook. Those without an account can follow us on www.elmoreautauganews.com just as easily. And we do not, nor will we ever while I am the owner, charge a subscription to read articles.
One of these days I will really retire. By then, I hope we have a big team of folks that can continue on and keep the Local News Matters concept alive and well. We love what we do. No one stays in this business for the money, I guarantee you. It is a passion. A calling.
Keep the news coming! Please tell your friends and businesses where you shop to look us up! We love writing articles about hometown businesses!
Thank you just doesn’t cover it.
Sarah Stephens can be reached at editorsarah@yahoo.com. For advertising, contact Carla Wilson at 334-285-1299.
