In 2024, the Mount Vernon News took significant steps to modernize and expand its presence in the community, introducing new digital screens and refining its content strategy to better serve readers and advertisers alike.
With these recent innovations, the newspaper is now reaching over 175,000 monthly impressions—an impressive leap that underscores its growing role in local journalism.
The Mount Vernon News has long been a staple of the community, and through its new initiatives, the newspaper is solidifying its place as a key player in the region’s media landscape.
Digital screens
Recently, the paper launched 12 digital screens across local businesses, which has added a new dimension to its distribution model. These screens display a range of local news, sports, and community stories, expanding the paper’s reach and delivering an additional 75,000 local impressions each month.
This multi-platform strategy—combining print, web and digital signage—ensures that the Mount Vernon News continues to stay relevant and visible in an increasingly digital world.
In addition to these digital advancements, the newspaper has implemented several community-focused enhancements that reflect its commitment to local journalism.
Kids Corner
One such initiative is the “Kids Corner” feature, a monthly section dedicated to showcasing local elementary schools, their students and their accomplishments. This heartwarming addition has been well received by readers and is just one example of how the Mount Vernon News is engaging with the community to tell more personalized, local stories.
Sports reporting
The paper’s commitment to comprehensive local coverage is further evident in its expanded sports reporting. The weekly sports newsletter, for example, has proven to be a valuable resource for local sports enthusiasts, offering detailed coverage of local teams and events.
Outdoors coverage
Additionally, the paper has expanded its Outdoors coverage, with dedicated pages featuring information on local hunting seasons, tips and stories about outdoor enthusiasts, providing readers with valuable information on hunting opportunities and wildlife conservation in the region.
City and County government reporting
The Mount Vernon News also continues to provide in-depth city and county government reporting on key issues such as the Frasier Solar Project, ensuring that readers are well-informed about major developments in their community.
Health and wellness coverage
Health and wellness coverage has also seen growth, with the Mount Vernon News regularly featuring content from Knox Community Hospital and other local health organizations. This adds another layer of value for readers, as the paper provides important information on topics ranging from fitness to mental health, tailored specifically to the needs of its local audience.
Advertising and “Shop Local” directory
On the business side, the Mount Vernon News has introduced a range of new offerings designed to support local businesses and advertisers.
One of the most popular additions has been the “Shop Local” directory, which runs weekly in both the print edition and online. This directory helps local businesses improve their online presence, with many seeing enhanced search engine optimization (SEO) results and appearing on the first page of Google search results for selected keywords. This has proven to be an effective way for businesses to increase visibility and attract more customers, contributing to the local economy.
Along with the digital screens, a new advertising sheet from the Mount Vernon News outlines the full extent of its media reach, including web, mobile and new advertising opportunities.
By offering a combination of print, digital and innovative platforms like the digital screens, the Mount Vernon News has created a multi-media model that benefits both readers and advertisers.
In addition, the Mount Vernon News has made significant strides in increasing its circulation, with over 1,500 additional copies being distributed each week. When combined with the paper’s paid subscribers, this means the Mount Vernon News now reaches over 2,500 printed copies weekly, ensuring its stories and information continue to reach a broader audience.
What's next?
As the newspaper continues to evolve, its mission remains unchanged: to provide high-quality local journalism that serves the community.
As part of its ongoing efforts to better serve the community, the Mount Vernon News is unveiling a fresh, modern look in early 2025.
The redesigned layout is centered around Mount Vernon, as well as Knox and Licking counties, with dedicated sections to better organize content and highlight local stories.
This updated design not only provides a more engaging reading experience but also reflects the paper’s commitment to staying relevant in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
The newspaper’s legacy remains strong, and these improvements underscore its dedication to providing high-quality local journalism to the communities of Knox and Licking counties.
