Atlanta, Cass newspapers merge to form Cass County Now
CASS COUNTY, Texas — The Atlanta Citizens Journal and the Cass County Sun newspapers have merged.
The new paper will be called the Cass County Now, which is also the name of the paper’s website.
The paper will be printed on Wednesdays.
“After many months of careful thought, inspection and consideration, we have decided to merge the Atlanta Citizens Journal and The Cass County Sun. It is not a decision we took lightly. In fact, over the last few months, we have done our best to avoid having to do so,” states a news article on the paper’s website.
A freeze on advertising has made it difficult to maintain the operation of two newspapers, according to a post by Publisher Shawn Larson.
“Once COVID-19 hit, community businesses closed which have hampered our advertising efforts. Many of our advertisers that have remained open for business have put a freeze on advertis
ing which has made it difficult to maintain the operation of two newspapers,” the post states.
“Even though we have seen an increase in subscriptions over several weeks, as well as dramatic increases in our website traffic and social media, we have been forced to take this step. Customers who receive a newspaper will continue to receive a newspaper. Under the new name, we will continue to keep the namesakes, Atlanta Citizens Journal and The Cass County Sun, to help preserve history. We will continue to serve our advertisers by making arrangements that will best meet their needs. You should not see a decrease in news, but likely more quality content from around Cass County and individual communities,” the post states.
Larson said COVID-19 has changed the economy, but people still want a reputable news source they can trust.
“People are looking for something reputable, something that will tell them the truth,” Larson said.
Combining the papers presents significant savings in printing, distribution and other operational costs, Larson said.
”It should be noted that we will still have a designated reporter for the Linden area as we do now. I believe this change will better serve all of Cass County, which will allow advertisers to have a broader reach and readers to get all available local news in Cass County.”
The post states a plan is still being worked out for customers who receive both newspapers.
From a historical perspective, the publishers are saddened by the decision.
“However, we are excited about the new way forward. We believe the Cass County Now name represents the direction in which we are moving which incorporates both digital and print media. You may have noticed that we are posting more stories on our website, sending out email alerts and have become more active on social media. In the future, you will see us involved in video streaming and a further-expanded digital presence,” the post states. “So your hometown newspaper isn’t going away, it’s just changing. While we know change is hard for many folks, we will be doing our best to make sure Cass County Now delivers more local news than ever before.”