January 10, 2024 By Glenn Mangurian
Some say the Hingham Journal is on “life support”. Others say it has drifted into a weekly with no clear identity and very little local news. Whatever the case, there is no debate that the Journal has been replaced by the Hingham Anchor for everything Hingham. The Hingham Anchor has followed the trend away from print journalism to offer a hyper-local news and lifestyle digital resource – just in time. Today, if you want Hingham news you don’t have to wait a week or subscribe to a newspaper. The Anchor fills the void and it is free! You’ve probably read about the collapse of local news over the past two decades. Hingham and the South Shore are no exceptions. The result is a growing number of “ghost newspapers” that barely cover their communities. Thanks to the vision of Laura Winters (a native of Shreveport, Louisiana) and Hilary Jenson (born and raised in Hingham) back in 2019 we can keep up to date on most things Hingham with the click of a link.
Today, it is hard to imagine how we would know what is going on without the Anchor.
The Anchor operates with a very small staff. Carol Britton Meyer is the News Editor who covered The Hingham Journal news beat for many years. Josh Ross is the Sports Editor and Photographer. Michael Page, (Meteorologist) who freelances with NBC Boston and also is an owner of Hingham Jewelers, is a volunteer contributor. Marisa Olsen, a contributor to Food & Wine and Southern Living, is a lifestyle contributor and restaurant reviewer. Jessica Wright is the Marketing Manager and Web Administrator.
The Anchor is financially supported by advertising and some donations. Without loyal advertisers and readers like you, the Anchor would cease to exist. All revenue is reinvested into the business, the community and to compensate local staff. Since its founding, Laura, Hilary and Josh (also a small equity owner) take no salary but spend much of their time each week leading the enterprise. Laura has recently taken a full-time job and as such, has taken a reduced role within the Anchor’s daily operations. Those of us who occasionally write opinion pieces or contribute articles are unpaid volunteers.
- You might ask how you can help. Here are some ideas:
- Become an Anchor advertiser. Without advertisers there would be no Anchor. Expanding the advertising base helps expand its scope and reach readers of all ages. If you are interested in exploring advertising, you can easily request a media kit.
- Support the Anchor advertisers. They want to know that their advertising dollars have an impact. Let them know that you have seen their ads in the Anchor and appreciate their support for local journalism.
- Tell a friend about the Anchor. Better still, tell five friends. Like all online advertising the dollar fees
are driven in large part by those who log on with frequency. - Like and share. If you read something on the Anchor, take a moment to like it, comment and/or share it.
- Subscribe to the weekly Anchor newsletter. Stay up to date on what’s happening even when you might miss news for a few days. The subscription link is on the Anchor homepage.
- Consider making a cash donation. When local news sources disappear, a void is created, leaving citizens uninformed and disengaged. If you appreciate the Anchor, consider a financial contribution and become a “first mate”.
So, thank you to Team Anchor. Thanks to your efforts journalism is alive and a vital part of the Hingham community. I call that “wicked awesome”.