In the current environment, small, local news outlets must consider any strategy to remain solvent and sustainable. A merger was the strategy for Emily Sachar, founder and editor of The Daily Catch in Red Hook, New York, which she launched in 2021, and Mark Fuerst, founder and publisher of the Hudson Valley Pilot since the fall of 2022, serving the nearby town of Rhinebeck.
Sachar has had a long journalism career. After working as a reporter at New York Newsday for many years, she moved to Red Hook in 2016. Initially discouraged by living in a news desert, Sachar wrote a blog for a citizen-generated news outlet. Soon, she decided to start a newspaper on her terms and lead the financial growth of a project she could control.
“I’m busier covering a town of 10,000 people than I was covering the huge New York City school system for Newsday. Every aspect of The Daily Catch is rewarding, from training young journalists to reporting complex and nuanced stories,” Sachar said.
The Daily Catch has won 13 New York Press Association awards and three New York News Publishers Association awards in three years.
When Fuerst decided to pursue other interests, he began to look for a new publisher. Sachar learned of his job posting and contacted Fuerst to discuss a merger. It had become evident that competing for the same readers and, more importantly, the same donors in a market of 20,000 citizens was impractical.
“It was hard on readers and sources because government leaders and town administrators were interviewed twice about the same topic. I’ve been surprised by the palpable relief of our readers that they don’t have to read two versions of the same news stories,” Sachar added.
Sachar will continue as editor-in-chief of the merged operations, with Walter Mullin as the publisher. Eric Steinman, the Pilot's executive editor, has become the senior editor, writing about arts, culture and entertainment and continuing the publication of the Pilot’s twice-weekly newsletter. These will be added to The Daily Catch’s portfolio of news products, including several newsletters and an occasional print edition. Meanwhile, one Pilot freelancer has become a production editor and will write enterprise features. Because of her expanded role, Sachar expects to hire a deputy editor.
Mullin joined The Daily Catch as publisher in May 2022. With his marketing background, he will continue to seek grants and donations to support the newspaper’s nonprofit status and develop innovative editorial ideas to attract sponsors and advertisers. The paper has 8,700 readers on its website and over 4,000 on social media. The publication is free to readers when they register.
“Emily and I have a great partnership. We think alike. We have the same attention to detail. We have the same judgment for the most part. It’s very easy to work with a partner with whom you’re aligned in all these ways,” Mullin said.
Through the symbiotic efforts of Mullin and Sachar, The Daily Catch has qualified for seven major national grants during the past two years via the Google News Initiative and The Knight Foundation. The paper is also one of the 205 Press Forward awardees, bringing $100,000 to the paper for two years.
“Our focus now is to welcome the Pilot and its readers into our fold. Ninety percent of Pilot readers who didn’t already have accounts on The Daily Catch have registered on our site. Government leaders are pleased with the merger because they only need to talk to one news outlet, and donors are relieved because they don’t have to choose between the two papers,” Sachar said.
Bob Sillick has held many senior positions and served a myriad of clients during his 47 years in marketing and advertising. He has been a freelance/contract content researcher, writer, editor and manager since 2010. He can be reached at bobsillick@gmail.com.
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