The Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University released its annual report on the state of local news last week, and the results were not pretty. It found 127 newspapers closed in 2023, bringing the number of U.S. print closures to more than 3,200 since 2005.  

According to the report, more than 200 counties are now without a source of local news, while more than 1,500 other counties only have one source. 

Alachua County is not immune from these trends, as the area has seen cutbacks and closures significantly alter the local media landscape. But, thankfully, the situation is not dire here.  

In fact, I could not help but see some irony in the timing of the Medill report, because it came days before we would launch a new zone—doubling circulation to 20,000 and making Mainstreet the most widely-circulated newspaper in North Central Florida.  

If you’re one of the 10,000 people receiving the newspaper for the first time today, you’re probably wondering: What makes Mainstreet different?  

It starts with our name. We are about Main Street, not Wall Street. We run local stories—not state and national wire copy—produced by real people who live in Gainesville. 

We’re also a daily news outlet, even though our print edition is weekly. The stories in the print edition are the best of last week’s news, but we publish an average of 45+ stories each week online.  

To get daily headlines, or twice-weekly sports headlines, delivered to your inbox for free, click here. 

In a recent reader survey, respondents frequently cited Mainstreet’s local focus as what they appreciated most. Two other themes: Readers like the unbiased and upbeat nature of our coverage. You won’t find editorials or opinion pieces telling you how to vote, but you will find straight news to make you a more informed voter.  

So how does this great coverage come to you without charge? Largely thanks to our members and advertisers. Since launching the Mainstreet membership program last year, hundreds of readers have signed up to get some cool benefits and, most importantly, help keep our work going.  

You can learn more on our membership page. 

An increasing number of businesses also stand with Mainstreet—from Publix to Pepine Realty and from Ward’s Supermarket to Walker Furniture. We are grateful to every single one, but also to you, our readers, who consistently support Mainstreet advertisers.  

The success of Mainstreet’s print advertisers is the No. 1 reason this expansion is a reality.