Two Years In, 'Owen Sound Current' Proves the Power & Necessity of Local News Media
As we celebrate our second anniversary, Owen Sound Current's publisher and editor reflect on our growth and thank the community for proving that local news still matters.
EDITORIAL
On November 1, Owen Sound Current marks two years of reporting local news — two years of showing up, digging in, and listening. This milestone belongs not just to our small editorial team and contributing writers, but to every reader, source, and supporter who helped us get here.
You’ve proven that local media still matters and can thrive when it’s truly rooted in the community it serves.
When we (publisher Maryann Thomas and editor Miranda Miller) launched the Owen Sound Current in 2023, we made a simple promise to one another, to you, and to ourselves: we’d keep going as long as there was community support, and we wouldn’t rely on advertising dollars or government grants to do it.
Since then, you’ve shown us just how strong and necessary this work is.
Together, we’ve published over 2,400 articles, including more than 500 weekday briefs, original photo coverage of life around Grey-Bruce, and hundreds of letters and community columns. Every day we publish, the Current reaches over 6,000 people. That’s 6,000 better-informed neighbours, more connected residents, and engaged citizens.
For many months now, Owen Sound Current has been ranked among the top 100 bestselling news publications on Substack. It’s a testament to what’s possible when readers rally behind journalism with purpose. With your support, we’re building a model for what community news can be: independent, accountable, and ad-free.
For those wondering: no, we’re not raising our rates.
Our pricing remains exactly the same as it’s been since day one. Yet this work isn’t easy, and it isn’t cheap.
Over the past year, we’ve expanded our Supporters’ Fund to help cover essential expenses, such as travel for important news coverage and Freedom of Information requests — costs necessary to hold institutions to account and report stories that would otherwise go untold.
If you’re in a position to contribute beyond your subscription, please consider becoming a Sustainer to support this work.
Thousands of email subscribers receive our free edition each weekday morning, as well as important community alerts as they happen. If you’re enjoying the free version of the Current, know that there’s a lot more to see. Full subscribers get unlimited access to our archives, curated news from across the region each weekday morning, and local events listings to help you stay connected.
And if a full subscription isn’t financially viable for you right now, we understand and still deeply value your support through sharing our stories, sending in photos, and keeping us in the loop about what’s happening in your corner of town. Every bit of that participation strengthens this community.
We are proud to be part of a growing movement of media outlets reclaiming community and reshaping Canadian journalism.
But the gaps left by shrinking newsrooms remain wide.
Earlier this week, Miranda had the opportunity to speak with CBC’s Heather Hiscox, one of Canada’s most respected broadcast journalists. Her reflections on the state of local media — and her personal connection to Owen Sound — affirmed the work we’re doing here in a deeply meaningful way:
“The more I think about things at this point in my career, the more I do hope to be able to talk to the issue of local journalism, because I just see how important it is, which is why I just applaud you for all that you’re doing.”
~ Heather Hiscox, CBC broadcaster
Hiscox went on to describe local media as a force that “creates cohesion in a community and overcomes division,” warning that without it, we risk not only a decline in journalism but a fraying of the civic fabric that binds us.
We couldn’t agree more.
Local news isn’t just about covering events. It’s about building the archives of our time, connecting people, and shining a light on what’s happening right here, in Owen Sound and across Grey and Bruce.
It’s about being accountable to our neighbours and transparent with our readers. It’s about speaking truth to power and ensuring our democratic processes and systems work as intended. It’s about helping people make sense of the world at their doorstep.
So, thank you for subscribing. Thank you for sharing stories, sending in letters, and trusting us with your news. You are the reason we’re still here, and we can’t wait to see what year three brings.
Looking back on a small slice of two years of breaking stories, amplifying local voices, and covering what matters most to you and our community, from our archives:
![Owen Sound's Mayor Really Doesn't Want to Talk About Homelessness [Video]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bdkR!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80775f58-9169-4c19-9d94-2b9640466085_1548x964.png)
Congratulations on a fabulous addition to the local news scene. An important and often overlooked contribution of local reporting is that it builds trust in journalism at a time when too much reporting is dismissed as “fake news.” When readers can see in the news what is demonstrably happening in their own community, it builds trust that reporters further afield (and abroad) are also observing, digging out and connecting important truths. Keep up the great work!
Congratulations 👍