25 years of bringing local news to Frome

A message from the owners, Ian & Susan Drew

THIS year Frome Times is proudly celebrating its 25th anniversary.

A quarter of a century for a local newspaper is something, we think, that’s worth celebrating, particularly a family-owned one.

The paper is one of only a handful of independent family-owned newspapers left in the country. And we couldn’t have done it without you – our readers; the local organisations and people who send us news and keep us informed of what’s happening in town; and the businesses who advertise with us and who have financed the paper for the past 25 years; without their support, there would be no newspaper.

To you all, a massive thank you from us and all the team here at Frome Times.

A giant thank you, too, to all our staff, both today and over the past 25 years, who have played a key role in bringing trustworthy local news to the community of Frome. And to our deliverers who, in rain and shine, deliver the paper to your door every fortnight. We could not do it without you; Frome Times is very much a team effort.

The paper has come a long way since 1998. It started life as a small A5 publication which was published every two months before becoming a fortnightly tabloid newspaper the following year, printed in black and white and 24 pages. Today it has grown to 32 or 40 pages in full colour and carries upward of 40 stories together with letters, family messages and 100+ adverts, showcasing what is on offer from local businesses.

This is a fabulous, vibrant town with so much going on and it has been our privilege to report on it for the past 25 years.

Publishing a local newspaper has never been tougher with the growth of news on the internet which can undermine the role of local newspapers, increasing pressures facing the local news sector including the effects of the pandemic on the reduction of advertising income and significant increases to print costs for print newspapers.

People are talking about the death of local newspapers but we think people still love a local newspaper coming through their door and we are planning on being around for a while yet!

Our daughter, Kate, and her partner, Joe, also head up the business, so the paper is in good hands going forward.

Inside is a special 10-page pullout celebrating our first 25 years. Enjoy – and here’s to the next 25 years!