The 830 Times online platform is turning into a weekly paper product, beginning Dec. 9.
“We feel like the future is with the digital platform,” said Joel Langton, publisher of 830 Times. “However, we feel like much of the Del Rio community still needs a paper product, so we are going to help with this transition.”
After more than 100 years, the Del Rio News-Herald, a daily newspaper that transitioned from seven days a week, to five, to two and finally called it quits this past week, left a news void in the Del Rio community.
The 830 Times has had a small staff since May but has quickly built a staff with nearly 100 years of journalism and writing experience in the past week. “We are very proud and honored to have the writers we have onboard and those that are coming on board,” Langton said. “It is a great team, and all of our goal is very simple, provide Del Rio the best coverage possible.”
The team is always going to strive to have their words up online as quickly as possible, to ensure that Del Rio does not have to wait on their news.
“The most current news will always be on www.830Times,” Langton said. “However, even in today’s world, some people still need their paper for classifieds, obituaries, public notices, etc., so we are going to provide our online content combined with these other paper-centric items to meet our complete community’s needs.”
Southern Newspapers, Inc., the Houston-based company that owned the News-Herald, is trying to sell the News-Herald building, located at 2205 N. Bedell Ave., plus its in-house products including the News-Herald, Del Rio Shopper and Laughlin Herald.
“Once again, we may end up with a company from outside our area, trying to cover our community,” said Langton. “While the News-Herald staff was awesome, they rotated out-of-town publishers through here about every two years and our community deserves better. Many of the major decisions were made in Houston and that is not what’s best for Del Rio.”
Several out of town companies are kicking the tires on the operation but all indications are Southern Newspapers, Inc., does not have a for-sure buyer.
“We aren’t going to sit around and hope Del Rio gets a paper,” Langton said. “We are going to take steps to ensure Del Rio has a paper now and into the future. Hope is not a plan. We are going to have a Del Rio paper for Del Rioans run by Del Rioans.”
