Extraordinary content

Over the past month, the Observer Media Group has completed its annual audit that tracks our readership and distribution with the Circulation Verification Council. We communicated the value of our partnership with our advertisers despite the continuing rise in costs of doing business; and we won a few awards. 

We tend not to boast about the latter, but all three — our audience, partners and award-winning content — are all tied to our mission. 

To us, you — our readers and advertisers — are a crucial part of our mission: “To inspire our communities with extraordinary local content and to help our partners prosper.” 

Inspiring our readers with extraordinary local content is at our core. Reporters who live in the communities we serve produce that content. None of our content comes from a wire service, and you’ll never see a feature story about Palm Beach or Wisconsin in our papers. Our content is all about You, Your Neighbors and Your Neighborhood. And it’s award-winning.

At the Florida Press Association’s 2024 Weekly Newspaper Contest Award ceremony July 26 in Orlando, Observer Media Group won 47 awards, including 19 first-place awards. That includes firsts for YourObserver.com for website excellence; Longboat Observer’s “Welcome Back!” edition for best special issue, section or supplement; and multiple wins for the Sarasota Observer’s layout and design. 

Photo by Ian Swaby

Everyone likes to win. But seeing the stories that matter to you receive statewide acclaim makes them even more meaningful. Like Sports Editor Ryan Kohn’s story, “The wait is over,” about Cardinal Mooney High School’s football team winning its first state championship since 1972. That won first place for best Sports Spot News Story. 

Longboat Observer staff writer Carter Weinhofer’s story, “Line in the sand,” won first place for his reporting on beach erosion impacts as a result of Hurricane Idalia on Longboat Key. And the Sarasota Observer’s exposé into radio personality Matt Bruce, who posed as a fictional 9/11 hero, won the Claudia Ross Memorial Award for investigative reporting.   

By providing quality news and information important to our audience, we are creating a platform with which our partners can align their brands. The advertising seen alongside our news and feature content is award-winning as well. Observer Media Group won “Best of Show” at the Florida Advertising Media Executives Creative Excellence Awards on July 25 in Orlando. That was one of 26 awards for new business concepts, advertising campaigns and creative designs. 

Gold awards included Talon Home Builders’ new construction print advertisement in the Home Improvement/Services category and Herrig Center for the Arts’ digital banner ad debuting its new branding after its name change from ArtCenter Manatee. 

We love to see our partners prosper as we help provide exposure to your goods and services and help you reach new customers. 

Every year, we strive to increase our audience through our newspapers, magazines, websites, e-newsletters, social media channels and mobile apps. Our annual audit with Circulation Verification Council revealed that throughout all of our platforms and channels, we reach an audience of 481,909 people in Sarasota/Manatee. And based on the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s most recent statement of ownership, our print and digital edition combined circulation more than doubles their print and digital reach. By partnering with us, our business partners are reaching the largest audience in our region.    

We’re not stopping there. We’re continually growing our paid subscribers to the Your Observer mobile app (available on the Apple App and Google Play stores). Last week, we began distributing our newspapers through Publix’s new scan-based trading program. We are continuing to add new modular news racks in downtown Sarasota and St. Armands Circle. We also are constantly evaluating how to continue growing — east into Lakewood Ranch, south toward Wellen Park and, up, with the new developments in downtown Sarasota.

Thank you for being loyal readers, for your partnerships and your trust in us. We are committed to providing extraordinary local content and helping your business grow and prosper. And we are especially grateful and excited to be on this growth trajectory with you.