From the Editor:

First, I apologize for the week-long hiatus. New babies tend to throw a wrench into side-projects.

Now on to the important stuff.

cropped-megaphonerant.jpgI started The Rant two months ago as a hobby more than anything else. I’ve been out of newspapers for two and a half years, and while it’s a decision I don’t regret in the least, part of me will always have a desire to “report the news.” I am and always will be a writer, and this website has allowed me to do that.

In two months, The Rant has garnered 25,000 views. This number has far exceeded my expectations. It’s also managed to make some noise as well, garnering statewide attention for our stories on the nearly illegal public meeting at Carolina Trace this month and the “PB&J” comment made by one of our commissioners in February. And to this date, The Rant’s most-read story (and a story that still gets a nice amount of views a day) was our report on the alleged embezzlement at Grace Chapel Church in Sanford.

I say “our” because while I run this site, I do have help. There is a group of us in this part of the state that sees the need for more in-depth journalism. The Rant hasn’t even broken the surface on what this site can do in Lee County and North Carolina. We’re just getting started.

Which brings me to the point of this post. Starting in July, The Rant will publish a monthly printed publication. Backed by the support of two local business owners (I will announce these co-publishers in the coming weeks), The Rant will become a free monthly publication filled with original content and content derived from the website. The printed piece will include a monthly column from me, a montly business column, an in-depth cover story and more. It will resemble the “alt-weeklies” seen in most major cities in that it won’t hold to the traditional “news-sports-opinion” format in most papers.

Why go printed? Well, I see the business potential in The Rant, and we’ve already received interest from local businesses for advertising. And I’m also a firm believer that Print is Not Dead. There’s something to be said about a well-designed, well-thought-out printed publication, and I believe The Rant will become one of the best alternative papers in the state in due time.

Again, this is just the announcement. It’s one I’m comfortable making today and one that will be followed by details in the weeks and days leading up to our July launch.

Thank you for helping make this site a success.