ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. -- The publisher of the Dade City News and Zephyrhills Free Press announced on Facebook Thursday that the newspapers have ceased operations.
- The final issues of Dade City News and Zephyrhills Free Press were released Jan. 9
- Publisher says decrease in ad sales played role in decision
- Papers could be restructured into one publication or continue as online version
- More Pasco County stories
"As you already noticed, there are no new editions of our newspapers on the street today," Pasco News Publications Publisher/Editor Chris Drews wrote in the January 16 post. "Currently, we are exploring opportunities to restructure our publications into one product that may be back on the street or just serve as an online publication."
During an interview at Pasco News Publications offices Friday, Drews said this possibility had been looming for some time.
"It's been coming. Sales drop off. It's a free paper," Drews said.
Drews said he founded the papers in 2011 after working in the news business for decades.
"When I worked at the Indianapolis Star News or USA Today, it was just a job. It was just a job. So, I prefer telling the local stories," he said. "You can go to an event and come back with three more stories from it, because there's stories to be told and small town papers are the only ones that will ever tell them."
That's why Drews said he founded the papers: to cover the hyper-local stories other media outlets were missing.
"When we started, several of our employees had worked at the Times or the Tribune, and they'd been laid off through different cutbacks. So, we really had a very good staff," Drews said.
Each week, 14,000 copies were delivered to newsstands and kiosks in East Pasco containing around 40 pages of local news. Drews said fewer than 500 returns had to be picked up each week.
"I'd say 99% of the people are sad to see the papers go," Drews said of the community response since Thursday's announcement. "They picked them up to see what was going on with city hall in Dade City or what was going on with the Pigs in ZHills coming up this weekend."
Drews said a decrease in ad sales played a big role in the decision to cease operations. While the papers may return in some form, Drews said support from the business community will be key to the future success of local news operations.
"What it takes is the mom and pops that want to tell you to shop local, they need to shop local. They need to buy local advertising. They need to stay within their community when they advertise," said Drews.
As for what he's most proud of during the papers' time in print, Drews points to the staff's community involvement, including helping to raise money for projects at AdventHealth Zephyrhills. Pasco News Publications is also a past recipient of the Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year Award.