For about 4,000 of the households receiving today's News-Star, the paper is an old friend. Some have read it weekly for years, even decades. After all, The News-Star has chronicled life in Clayton for going on 100 years, and it has earned a reputation among residents as a must-read.
For about 15,000 households, today begins a new relationship with The Clayton News-Star. Some of these folks are receiving the paper along with their N&O subscription; others receive it as a free, stand-alone community paper with inserts. Many of them formerly received The N&O's Garner-Clayton Record.
We hope that old friends and new readers alike will be pleased with the paper and will enjoy its new twice-a-week publication schedule. (We're adding a Sunday edition starting Aug. 7).
Stewart McLeod, owner and publisher for the past 14 years, will continue to serve the paper and the community as advertising director of The News-Star. He is proud of the paper he has built and sustained and its relationship with readers and invested in its continuing success.
Long-time readers will notice a few differences from last week's edition. Now that The News-Star is owned by The News & Observer, it's printed on presses that require a narrower page and built using software that uses slightly different fonts. Some column names have changed a bit.
But we have heard loudly and clearly from News-Star readers that they love the paper's close focus on Clayton and its arms-wide-open approach to covering what goes on in this vibrant community. That will continue in the capable hands of editor Brian Rapp and sports editor Jim Green.
In addition to Clayton news, features and events, we'll draw upon our Smithfield-based reporting team for news of countywide interest. We have added a crossword puzzle to both editions. We will give you more, not less. (Except for one thing: ink on your fingers. The N&O's presses use water-based ink, which doesn't rub off.)
As always, we welcome your contributions about life in Clayton. On page 2, you'll find deadlines and submission guidelines to send us news and information about Clayton school events and honors, business openings, civic and community clubs and events and activities in faith communities. If it's happening in Clayton, we are interested.
Thanks for reading The Clayton News-Star, whether this is your first time or your thousandth.
Felicia Gressette
VP/Marketing & Community Publishing
