Fulton County Ohio Media

For those of you who have not been informed or have noticed, the Swanton Enterprise, along with the Fulton County Expositor, has been absorbed by the Northwest Signal, a five-day a week newspaper.  All three publications are owned by AIM Media Midwest and, I assume, a business decision was made to merge the three into one, under the Northwest Signal banner.  The first issue was published today, Tuesday, February 21, 2023.  A boxed announcement was printed on the right side of the first page above the fold.

It read:  Changes announced.  Exciting changesare coming to the Northwest Signal today.  Three AIM Media Midwest newspapers — the Northwest Signal in Henry County and the Fulton County Expositor and Swanton Enterprise in Fulton and Lucas counties — are now combined to serve our local communities with the area’s most comprehensive local news and sports coverage.  The Northwest Signal will now cover local news and sports throughout Fulton, Henry, Lucas and surrounding counties and will be delivered in print and online five days a week — Monday through Thursday and Saturday — to more than 4,000 subscribers, racks and dealers beginning today.  Our offices in Napoleon and Wauseon will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to better serve our customers.

Given the downward spiral of the printed newspaper industry for the past two decades, this announcement should come as no surprise.  Many newspapers around the country, large and small, have shuttered their doors and many more, such as the Toledo Blade, have scaled back printed issues or publish only online.  Advances in technology now deliver news and other information, virtually at the speed of light, right into the palm of our hand, no matter where we happen to be.  It is difficult to compete with that and media companies that offer printed newspapers have had to pool their resources to stay afloat.

While the same information will be available in a similar format, I will still miss the Swanton Enterprise.  There is a special feeling when your town has its own newspaper, especially when the name of the town is part of the paper’s banner.  The Swanton Enterprise was a source of pride and an integral part of the village’s identity.  First published in 1886, the Enterprise is almost as old as Swanton itself which was founded in 1883. 

And it was more than just a newspaper.  It was familiar and personal, like an old friend.  You knew the names in the bylines between the headlines and the articles.  They were your neighbors or former classmates or your kids went to school with their kids.  You saw them at Kroger or Memorial Park or in church.  It was a small-town paper with content that made you feel thankful to be part of the community. 

I am not as old school and nostalgic as I sound in this piece.  I look forward to reading the Northwest Signal and am glad the Enterprise employees will be a part of it.  Still, I will miss the Swanton Enterprise and the anticipation of its weekly arrival.  As a long-time resident of the Swanton area, it feels like a part of our community has been taken away.  I understand why and do not disagree with it.  So, thank you to the many people that worked very hard over the many years to bring us the Enterprise and to the paper itself.  It was good to know you.