Valley Community Working To Keep Local Papers Alive

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Valley Independent has served Monessen, Charleroi, Donora, Belle Vernon and surrounding communities in one form or another for more than a hundred years.

But inside its latest edition: signs of its short life - an ad from funeral directors announcing they're partnering with the Herald Standard to cover obituaries beginning January 1st, and the Observer Reporter has an ad pledging to expand its coverage now that the Valley Independent is shutting down. No buyers came forward when Trib Total Media put it up for sale.

But some Mon Valley businessmen say those high honors announcements from Belle Vernon High that appear in the Valley Independent and local sports coverage are unique to a local paper.

They are working on a business plan to print their own publication through the Mid Mon Valley Publishing company.

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"We need a voice and we need to have access to a media that people are going to use," said Charleroi attorney Keith Bassi. "We feel that the print media is extremely important... We sometimes joke about the fact that the only reason we open up our local newspaper is to find out who died. But that's important. And it's important that we have that information. Who died, who was born, what businesses have started? Where can we shop? What sport teams are doing well and what aren't?"

Coal Center businessman Moe Galis say the unique geography of the valley, crossing a number of county lines, make a local paper essential.

"For them to get a different newspaper to get a piece of their news and another different newspaper for another piece of their news, they want the valley news in one paper," he said. "News reporters, unfortunately you guys have to report on a lot of the negative stuff, the bad stuff, the fires, the murders, the bad stuff. There's still a lot of good in our valley. There's a lot of good people here, and there's a lot of positive news that can be put out. I think we hunger for that. We need that. We want that."

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But what can Mid Mon Valley Publishing do that the Trib couldn't? Traditional print has had trouble competing with the Internet but the potential publishers think the other newspapers the Trib did sell can teach a lesson for a business plan.

"The communities that those other papers were sold within are much smaller communities than what we have," said Bassi. "So we believe that there are other business components that have to be looked at as to the reason why those two papers in particular did not sell."

On New Year's Eve, the final publication of the Valley Independent will be published by Trib Total Media but on that very same day, a new web page to gauge interest for a new Mon Valley publication will be launched.

That webpage can be accessed at www.monvalleyindependent.com beginning December 31.

In the interim, Galis said residents may contact Mid Mon Valley Publishing at 724-243-2040, or via email at mmvpco@gmail.com.