EDITOR’S NOTE: National Newspaper Week is Oct. 4-10. This year marks the 75th anniversary of National Newspaper Week. National Newspaper Week is an observance that underscores the impact of newspapers on communities large and small, and this year’s theme is “Power of the Press.”
News journalists are entrusted with a very important and powerful role as the public’s messenger within the communities they serve every day.
Journalists must see themselves as the unbiased observer in local government meetings, where decisions will be made that impact the citizens among their readership.
Journalists must not only record the facts, but also have the guts to ask questions that no one really wants to answer. Journalists then have the due diligence to “tell it how it is” but to do so clearly, accurately and fairly.
Journalists must strive for the consistent publication of credible news for their readership, which trusts that they will dig, find the truth and report on it.
GANT is dedicated to delivering news coverage on community issues that matter to its readership, such as residents protesting changes at Clearfield Penn Highlands Hospital and the controversy over the class ranking system at the Clearfield Area Junior-Senior High School.
GANT is also dedicated to its breaking news coverage and being first to report on the recent homicide in DuBois City and the arrest of 15 suspected drug dealers in Operation Leaf Rake in Clearfield County.
Over the years, GANT has proudly assisted law enforcement with identifying and locating crime suspects and in searching for missing persons. Lastly, GANT has proudly promoted, reported on and supported local organizations, charities and events.
History
Founded in 2006, GANT (Get Area News Today) was one of the first web-based newspapers in Pennsylvania. In fact, it was the second to launch, according to the Pennsylvania News Media Association, and quickly grew to become one of the top-visited newspaper Web sites in its market.
GANT became a member of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA), which is now known as the Pennsylvania News Media Association (PNMA), shortly after its launch in 2006.
In late 2007, GANT entered a news share agreement with the local NBC affiliate, WJAC-TV. The Web site continued to grow in popularity with a reputation for providing fast, accurate reporting and taking on the slogan, “Today’s News Today.”
In 2012, there was a push for heavy inclusion in social media. GANT worked with the Netherlands-based company, Prisma Information Filtering, to install social media-curated news known as “Crowdy News” into its online pages.
GANT also became active with Facebook, Twitter and Google+ pages and started a YouTube video sharing channel. GANT has used its video channel to aid local law enforcement by having its readership help identify and expose suspects shown in surveillance video.
In an effort to expand news resources and enhance content, GANT entered into an agreement with the Turner Broadcast Company in late 2014, enabling GANT to become a CNN News Affiliate. The addition of the CNN partnership brought world-class news, expanded national reports and video programming to the local news destination.
Developers at GANT continued to explore new and emerging technologies and offer readers interactive elements, such as digital weekly circulars, local business Half-off Deals and the GANT Social Market.
GANT realizes more than 200,000 readers each month, and its social media engagements reach an average of 30,000 visitors each week. In 2016, GANT will mark its 10-year anniversary.