Introducing the NEW Extra Newspaper
The staff atThe Extraoperates under a steadfast desire to bring the news to you in the best possible manner. We pride ourselves on our ability to connect with our readers on a personal level that enhances the reading experience. As such, we have undergone a lengthy process of self-evaluation in order to make the changes necessary to continue working as a high-level newspaper.
History of the Newspaper
Newspapers are one of the world’s oldest forms of communication. In fact, the first newspaper can be traced all the way back to 59 B.C. when the Roman Acta Diuma was distributed.
In the United States, the first newspaper was the short-lived Publick Occurrences, published in 1690. Unfortunately, the paper was distributed without authority and quickly suppressed by the powers that be. It wasn’t until 1704 that a successful newspaper appeared in the country when postmaster John Campbell publishedThe Boston News-letter.
Moorhead’s Newspaper Attempts
Historically, Moorhead has had an up and down relationship with the newspaper. According to Mark Peihl, Archivist at the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, the first newspaper appeared in Moorhead as early as July of 1872, less than a year after the railroad arrived and the community was established.
The newspaper’s heyday came in the early to mid-20th century when the city hostedThe Moorhead Daily News, The Moorhead Weekly News, The Moorhead Independent, The FramandThe Moorhead Citizenat the same time.
Since then, there have been several attempts at resurrecting a newspaper located within the city limits. Many tried, but none succeeded…untilThe Extra.
The Appeal ofThe Extra
The Extrahas provided the residents of Moorhead and the surrounding Red River Valley with reliable news, niche articles and event information for several years. In addition, the paper has a wide range of columnists that each offer a different perspective on the world we live in. We are committed to providing our readers with only the best, and that is something that will never change.
What will change, however, is our layout.The Extrais moving from a “shopper” layout to a broadsheet newspaper layout. Exactly what does that mean?
The Extrais mailing a copy of our April 2nd and April 9th issues to every household and business in Moorhead and Dilworth for introduction. Issues after the 9th can be picked up at hundreds of distribution sites across the area.
The City of Moorhead deserves a newspaper that speaks to them and for them. AlthoughThe Extrawill still provide informational briefs for the surrounding Red River Valley, the majority of the paper will be dedicated to Moorhead.
Historically, Moorhead has often taken a back seat to the larger City of Fargo. In terms of size, Fargo is definitely larger than Moorhead. In terms of talent, distinction, and progressive innovation, however, Moorhead holds its own.The Extraeagerly embraces the opportunity tohighlight that which makes our city great.
New Century Press
and MFCP
The Extrais operated by New Century Press as part of the Midwest Free Community Papers (MFCP), which includes newspapers in ten Midwestern States. Our newspaper has continually embraced change and progress in order to become one of the top papers in the MFCP.
At the recent MFCP awards banquet,The Extrareceived several impressive distinctions: General Excellence, Most Improved Publication, 1st place for Best Single Ad, 1st place for Self-Promotion of Your Website, and honorable mention for Best Ad Promotion.
2014 was not the first time these awards were bestowed upon our paper. In fact,The Extrahas won awards for the past three years. Our commitment to excellence has put us in a position to be labeled one of the top newspapers within MFCP.
Print is not dead
There are those in the newspaper industry that proclaim the print newspaper a thing of the past. It is true that online news has seduced some readers to the World Wide Web. It is also true that the explosion of internet news sources will likely lead to future generations that will never handle an actual newspaper. The reality of the current situation, however, is that print news is far from dead.
Several years ago, the publishing industry lamented the introduction of devices like the Kindle and the Nook in fear that people would move away from printed books. Although many readers have converted to the simple and convenient world of online books, printed books are still preferred by many people. Simply step into your localBarnes and Noble to see an industry that is still alive and kicking.
Print newspapers hold the same appeal. There is something about the feel of the paper that makes the words come alive. The smell of the pages is a sensory enhancer that cannot be duplicated via a screen. As a result, there will still be a large segment of the population that prefers print over web. In other words, the newspaper is not dead!
The Future ofThe Extra
“It’s an exciting time not only for our newspaper, but for Moorhead and the surrounding area,” explained Editor Tammy Finney. “We were excited to become the official and legal publication for the City of Moorhead and now the opportunity to reach the city residents by mail for introduction is another watershed event for us.”
The Extraserves the communities of Moorhead, Fargo, West Fargo, Dilworth, Georgetown, Perley, Hendrum, Halstad, Ada, Ulen, Hitterdal, Hawley, Glyndon, Sabin and Barnesville. It can be found online at www.thefmextra.com and updates are posted on Facebook viaThe ExtraNewspaper.
The staff atThe Extrawould like to thank you for your support. A newspaper is only as strong as its readership. Luckily, that means we are in great shape. We hope you like the new and improved newspaper and will continue to embraceour publication. We are here for you.
