The phone is already ringing in the new Freeport Focus office. The former female clothing boutique in downtown will soon be home to an even bigger newspaper. "The expansion is huge. We've gone from a staff of eight to one that will ultimately be 23," Publisher Dan Stevens said. Staff is already getting to work, setting up computers and updating circulation lists. In two weeks, the Freeport Focus will offer daily editions Tuesday through Saturday afternoons. Readers will see new national and statewide wire reports plus more local coverage.
"School board, city hall, county board, you name it, it's in there," Stevens said. This expansion comes at time when newspapers across the country are downsizing. Stevens says he realizes that but says there's market for this type of product in Freeport. "We're an afternoon market. This is an agricultural area. People are milking in the morning or getting their kids ready for school," Stevens said. As for the competition down the street..."I really wouldn't use the word concerned. I'd say competition is a good thing, it helps us raise our game as well," said Journal Standard Managing Editor Eric Petermann.
Still Petermann says there's been extensive discussions at the Journal Standard about improving and responding to readers. He mentioned staff changes coming too and feels prepared for when these piles of papers nearby get even higher. The Freeport Focus was previously located in Lena for five years before it's recent move to Freeport. The publisher says local business and property owners are investing in their expansion. August 5th is the target date right now for the launch of the new Freeport Focus. It's publisher says folks are already coming in to sign up subscriptions.