Recently I’ve had to make a very tough decision.

After nearly 28 years with the Tribune and Morris Multimedia, I have decided to accept a position with another organization in an industry I have always found quite fascinating. I figured if I was going to try something new, now was the time and this was the opportunity.

But, be assured the Tribune isn’t going anywhere. The Great Bend Tribune has been owned by Charles Morris since 1972 and that is not changing. He and his management team at Morris Multimedia, located in Savannah, Ga., believe that local management is in the best position to make decisions on content, promotions and engagement. This philosophy is one of the reasons I have stayed with Morris for as long as I have. I have never been asked to compromise my ethics and they have always been there when we’ve needed additional resources. This ideology is not changing. The Tribune will continue to have local leadership with local control.

Morris Multimedia’s commitment to locally operated newspapers contrasts sharply with the large conglomerates that take a top-down, one-size fits all approach. It indeed saddens me when I look around the state and see what has happened to what were once considered some of the state’s best community newspapers after they were gobbled up by large conglomerates driven solely by profit and no regard to community needs. Many communities are now what would be considered news deserts with no local coverage and this issue is not confined to Kansas.

The Tribune will go on. Our Great Bend Cares and Great Bend Connect Facebook groups will still be updated. The Tribune’s Women’s Expo and Wellness Expo will continue as long as you continue to support them. In fact, don’t be surprised if you see other new projects or events. We still want your feedback, news tips and ideas.

I do leave you with one request. The past four or five years has been tough for the community, including our retailers and our local media. Economic downturns in the oil and ag industry hit the area hard and, just as things started to improve, COVID reared its ugly head. The Tribune is not immune from having to make difficult decisions because of economic circumstances in our communities, but the needs of our community, our readers and our advertisers are always one of our top considerations. I implore you to continue to be supportive both financially and emotionally to our area businesses. Our area is indeed fortunate to have some great businesses and organizations, including multiple community news and information choices.

I truly appreciate the opportunity to have been able to serve you.

Thank you for letting me be a small part of your lives.

Mary Hoisington