Welcome to Independent Tribune Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

independenttribune.com - Independent Tribune

HomeNewsEntertainmentSportsLifestylesOpinionCommunityWeather Online Tools Jobs | Real Estate | Shopping | Classified

Weekly 'Concord Standard' newspaper to stop publication

Independent Tribune

Published: November 8, 2008

The Concord Standard and Mount Pleasant Times has decided to shut down.
Publisher Kimberly Powell informed the staff about noon of the decision to stop publication of the weekly newspaper.
She cited company debt and falling advertising revenue as the reason for shutting down the newspaper. About nine people will be affected.
"It's been a challenging time," Powell said. "We've had a lot of interest in publishing in another arena. I'm very bullish on print. I think people want to hold something in their hands."
The Concord Standard began publishing in May 2004, when former editor Dale Cline and a group of partners founded the newspaper. It mainly covered Concord and Mount Pleasant.
Powell, a newspaper advertising veteran, and her husband, George, bought a controlling share in the newspaper in May 2007, expanded its editions to Harrisburg and Kannapolis, and did a redesign of the newspaper.
Cline, a former Independent Tribune editor, left the newspaper in May 2008, and Beth Feeback was appointed the editor.
"It was abrupt," Feeback said of the closing, "but we saw the handwriting on the wall. This is the worst advertising situation. But we're really proud of our paper."
Powell said the Standard will print its last edition Nov. 13.