MVI celebrates nine years as Valley’s local newspaper

“What happens here, matters here” has been our motto since our first issue was published in 2016.

By STACY WOLFORD
Managing Editor
swolford@yourmvi.com

Nine years ago today, the Mon Valley Independent rose from the ashes of newspaper graveyards around the country and published its first edition on May 2, 2016.

It was a feat that many thought we couldn’t accomplish, especially during a time when newspapers were folding across the United States.

Now, close to a decade later as we continue to forge forward, we remain steadfast on our mission from Day 1: To provide the best local news and sports coverage to the Valley, its residents and business owners.

With a focus on bringing back the personal, hometown feel, the board comprising Mid Mon Valley Publishing Co. LLC worked diligently following the closure of The Valley Independent on Dec. 31, 2015, to bring a local newspaper back to the Valley. The culmination of those efforts came to fruition with the launch of the Mon Valley Independent.

Mid Mon Valley Publishing Co. decided to name the new paper the Mon Valley Independent to not only keep ties with the former newspaper that was closed after 113 years in business, but also to demonstrate its intent to serve the entire Mon Valley region as a leader for reporting local news and sports.

At the time of our reopening, Teri L. Henning of the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, said it was “exciting to see the Mon Valley Independent reestablish itself as a crucial news and information source for its community.

“Local newspapers inform readers and connect communities in ways that no other medium does. From local sports coverage to town council meetings and crime information, from advertising inserts to community events listings, no one provides the scope or depth of information about what is going on in a community better than a local newspaper,” Henning said.

We have strived to do that every day.

Of course, it hasn’t been easy. Like many independent, local businesses, we made necessary changes to weather the pandemic, and faced economic challenges, rising costs and inflation. While many newspapers cut back on print editions to only a few days a week or not at all, the MVI continues to print a newspaper Tuesdays through Saturdays, and we offer our electronic edition on Mondays. Subscribers also have access to 10-12 extra electronic edition pages each day filled with news and sports on a state, national and worldwide level.

Over the years, we expanded our coverage to include the McKeesport area, where folks there also felt the loss of a local newspaper since the closing of the McKeesport Daily News the same day the VI shut down.

Most recently, we expanded into the West Mifflin area, where their local officials have welcomed us with open arms.

Nine years later, we are proud to still be the only local newspaper that gives you coverage of what is happening at your council and school board meetings. We are a watchdog over the actions of government agencies and elected officials. We are there to hold local officials accountable. That includes filing requests to get public records that shine a light on government action — or inaction — and even filing lawsuits to promote transparency.

As your local newspaper, we play an important, irreplaceable role in your lives. We cover high school and community sports. We keep track of events at schools and weekend gatherings that are what make our communities great.

As we do with each election, we will provide comprehensive coverage of the May 20 primary throughout the next few weeks.

We strive to provide as much local news and sports as we can each day and are constantly working to improve and do better than we did the day before.

But we can’t do that without your support. We appreciate our readers and advertisers for their continued support over the years and we look forward to being your neighbor and trusted news source for many more years to come.