DURANGO A new beginning is on its way for The Durango Herald and its affiliated companies, including three in Montezuma County.
We think the future holds a great deal of promise for communications in Southwest Colorado, Herald Publisher Richard Ballantine said in announcing the new focus to employees on Friday..
In the afternoon meeting broadcast companywide, Ballantine unveiled a plan to bring all of the Ballantine familys media enterprises, including the Cortez Journal, The Mancos Times, The Dolores Star, Directory Plus and Buzztown.com, under a unified corporate umbrella and vision.
The decision was made last week, Ballantine said, as he and his siblings, Elizabeth Ballantine, William Ballantine and Helen Ballantine Healy, had lengthy conversations about their desire to maintain and grow the family-owned media company.
Jobs will be created, not lost, as the company takes on a new name, organizational structure and a renewed focus on training and meeting the changing needs of the regions consumers and businesses, Ballantine said.
And we will remain a family business, he assured employees.
The most visible change locally will be a redesigned Cortez Journal website, scheduled to launch in the next few months, said Suzy Meyer, publisher of the Montezuma County newspapers. The new configuration will provide more aggressive online advertising opportunities for local retailers and professionals.
We know our readers and advertisers want to utilize new technology, Meyer said. We want to stay ahead of the curve.
The new corporation, Ballantine Communications Inc., aims to grow and innovate as technology does in coming years, Ballantine said. There will be an added emphasis on meeting consumers needs in the digital world, he said. To that end, a new digital media division will be created.
Innovation will be a big part of that media component, Ballantine said.
The Ballantine family invites employees, consumers and advertisers to aid in that process with ideas and suggestions. The company hopes to develop products in print and online that not only serve the areas needs but give the community ownership in those resources, Ballantine said.
We are eager to explore the areas digital needs and want to tailor our work to the special qualities of the Southwest Colorado community, Ballantine said.
Arthur and Morley Ballantine purchased The Durango Herald in 1952, and the company has since grown to include three additional community newspapers, multiple phone books in New Mexico and Colorado and several online endeavors.