When Does The Brunswick Beacon Get Published?

The Brunswick Beacon is a newspaper that serves Shallotte, North Carolina, and other communities in southwestern Brunswick County. It has a circulation of about 15,000 and primarily covers local government, businesses, events, crime, public schools, and local sports. The Beacon is published weekly, and in the mid-1990s, it expanded from printing 28 to 32 pages to 70-plus pages each week.

The Brunswick Beacon's history

The Brunswick Beacon, a newspaper with a circulation of about 15,000, was founded by Brunswick County native Robert B. Stanley, Sr. in 1962. The first publication, dated November 1, 1962, was called the Shallotte Press. A contest was held to name the paper, and it was won by Shallotte businesswoman, JoAnn Simmons.

The Beacon primarily covers local government, local businesses and events, crime, public schools, and local sports. It serves Shallotte, North Carolina, the islands of Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Sunset Beach, and other communities in southwestern Brunswick County, including Carolina Shores, Calabash, Ash, Supply, and Bolivia.

In the early 1960s, the islands were nearly vacant, and the surrounding communities were small pockets of population dominated by fishing. As a result, front-page news from that period included stories such as a local man being stung by a bee, a raid on a local still, and a jailbreak in a neighboring town.

In 1970, The Beacon was purchased by Edward Sweatt, a partner in Community Newspapers Inc. out of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Under Sweatt and his wife, Carolyn's, ownership, the newspaper successfully navigated through the area's population explosion in the late 1980s and early 1990s, staving off competition from several groups attempting to start a second newspaper in the market. By the mid-1990s, real estate and service industry advertising allowed The Beacon to expand from printing 28 to 32 pages to 70-plus pages each week.

Circulation and reach

The Brunswick Beacon is a newspaper based in Shallotte, North Carolina, serving the communities of southwestern Brunswick County. It has a circulation of about 15,000 and covers local government, businesses, events, crime, public schools, and sports. The newspaper has a wide reach, with paid circulation in 49 states, likely due to the area's allure to tourists and retirees interested in the local real estate market.

The Brunswick Beacon was founded in 1962 by Brunswick County native Robert B. Stanley, Sr., following a series of unsuccessful publications that served the area in the 1930s. The first issue, published on November 1, 1962, was called the Shallotte Press. The paper's name was then changed to The Brunswick Beacon after a naming contest won by local businesswoman JoAnn Simmons.

The Beacon was purchased in 1970 by Edward Sweatt, a partner in Community Newspapers Inc. out of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Under Sweatt's ownership, the newspaper successfully navigated competition and a population boom in the late 1980s and early 1990s. By the mid-1990s, the Beacon had expanded from printing 28 to 32 pages to over 70 pages each week, fuelled by real estate and service industry advertising.

In 2001, the Beacon moved to a larger office and printing plant on Smith Avenue. It changed hands again in 2003, when it was purchased by Landmark Community Newspapers Inc. of Shelbyville, Kentucky, a division of Landmark Media Enterprises. Most recently, in May 2021, the newspaper was acquired by Paxton Media Group, and its office was relocated to a new location on Express Drive in Shallotte.

The Brunswick Beacon continues to serve the communities of southwestern Brunswick County, providing local news and information to its readers.

Topics covered

The Brunswick Beacon is a newspaper that covers a wide range of topics relevant to the people of Shallotte, North Carolina, and the surrounding areas. The paper has a circulation of about 15,000 and primarily focuses its coverage on local government, local businesses and events, crime, public schools, and local sports.

The Beacon is well-known for its comprehensive reporting on local government affairs, keeping residents informed about the decisions and policies that impact their daily lives. The paper also shines a spotlight on local businesses, celebrating their successes and providing valuable insights for entrepreneurs and consumers alike.

Crime and public safety are also important topics for the Brunswick Beacon. The paper keeps its readers informed about local crime incidents, helping to raise awareness and promote community safety. Additionally, the Beacon covers public schools and education-related issues extensively. This includes updates on school board meetings, educational programmes, and achievements of students and staff.

Local sports are another key area of focus for the Brunswick Beacon. The paper provides coverage of local teams, athletes, and sporting events, fostering a sense of community pride and engagement. The Beacon also reports on a range of other topics, including real estate, tourism, and human-interest stories, ensuring that its readers are well-informed about all aspects of life in the region.

Previous owners

The Brunswick Beacon has had several owners since its founding in 1962 by Robert B. Stanley, Sr. It was first called the Shallotte Press, and its name was changed following a contest won by Shallotte businesswoman JoAnn Simmons.

In 1970, Edward Sweatt, then a partner in Community Newspapers Inc. out of Spartanburg, South Carolina, purchased the newspaper. Sweatt and his wife, Carolyn, owned the publication during a period of significant population growth in the area. They successfully guided the paper through this transition, and by the mid-1990s, the Beacon had expanded from printing 28 to 32 pages to 70-plus pages each week.

In June 2003, the Beacon was purchased by Landmark Community Newspapers Inc. of Shelbyville, Kentucky. LCNI is a division of Landmark Media Enterprises, a privately held media company in Norfolk, Virginia, with interests in newspapers, TV broadcasting, and cable programming.

Finally, in May 2021, the Beacon was purchased by Paxton Media Group, headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky. This sale also included 45 other newspapers in the Landmark chain.

Current owner

The Brunswick Beacon, which has a circulation of about 15,000, is currently owned by Paxton Media Group, headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky. The newspaper was purchased by the company in May 2021, along with 45 other newspapers in the Landmark chain. The current owner bought the newspaper from Landmark Community Newspapers Inc. of Shelbyville, Kentucky, a division of Landmark Media Enterprises, a privately held media company in Norfolk, Virginia. The newspaper was purchased by Landmark Community Newspapers in June 2003.

The Brunswick Beacon has changed hands several times since its founding in 1962 by Brunswick County native Robert B. Stanley, Sr. The newspaper was first called Shallotte Press, and its name was later changed to The Brunswick Beacon following a contest won by Shallotte businesswoman JoAnn Simmons. In 1970, the newspaper was purchased by Edward Sweatt, then a partner in Community Newspapers Inc. out of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The Beacon primarily covers local government, local businesses and events, crime, public schools, and local sports. It serves Shallotte, North Carolina, the islands of Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Sunset Beach, and other communities in southwestern Brunswick County, including Carolina Shores, Calabash, Ash, Supply, and Bolivia.

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