When The Bulletin in Bend joined EO Media Group, it had the overwhelming support of the community as well as local investors to ensure that the newspaper would remain a voice for Central Oregon.

I have felt that same support in Medford and across the Rogue Valley as we embark on a new journey with a brand-new news operation, the Rogue Valley Tribune.

My recent visit to the valley was likewise filled with support and well-wishers across the community, including a warm welcome from longtime colleague Patsy Smullen and introductions around town by Bob Hunter, former long-time editor of the Medford Mail Tribune, who came out of retirement for a few months to help us get started.

That enthusiasm and support extended to quickly securing office space at the Southern Oregon Historical Society building at 106 N. Central Ave. in downtown Medford. A big thank you to SOHS executive director Ron Kramer and the SOHS board.

There is a lot of work ahead to get all 32 staff members hired and operations underway, but things are coming together and we anticipate having reporters and photographers out into the community capturing news and images of the Rogue Valley as you read this column.

Editor David Smigelski has hit the ground running, interviewing and making selections from a very talented pool of newsroom candidates. It’s heartening to see their commitment to community journalism and know they believe in the mission of producing credible, local, relevant content and want to be a part of this new venture. There will be familiar names and some who will be new to our readers.

As far as how we will operate, our focus will be to post stories to the website www.rvtrib.com first and then go into the print and digital edition of the newspaper three days a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Your subscription pays for our news gathering efforts, so please consider subscribing. If you do subscribe, be sure to sign up for the digital edition of the print newspaper, which will be delivered via email by 6 a.m. on our publishing days. The printed newspaper will also be mailed with same day in-county delivery, beginning Feb. 18.

We are starting this venture from scratch and are not affiliated with the former Medford Mail Tribune, also known as the Mail Tribune that ceased operations on Jan. 13, 2023.

Thank you for your support.

Heidi Wright is the Chief Operating Officer for EO Media Group and Publisher of The Bulletin in Bend.