After a 14 month hiatus,Tulare Voice newspaper is back delivering local news in an internet version only. Funded by Tulare investors led by banker Phil Smith and with veteran Tulare journalist Julie Fernandez as editor, the paper launched it first edition this week on-line at tularevoice.com. Owner of paper is a group called Tulare News,LLC located at 220 E Tulare Ave Tulare, CA 93274
The print and on-line edition was last seen in December 2011 as the Tulare edition folded along with parent Valley Voice Newspaper of Visalia. The free newspaper had better than a 32 year run started as a monthly in 1979 and becoming a weekly in 2006 when the Tulare Voice was also launched.
Phil Smith offered some perspective on the goals of the reborn Tulare Voice that closed not because of lack of interest but finances.
“First, gather the details and report the facts accurately and objectively within a framework of balance, context and clarity. We do not intend to allow our reporting to be influenced by political, social or monetary pressures.
Second, maintain an operationally and financially viable organization. If the new Tulare Voice cannot sustain itself as a business, then we will obviously be unable to achieve the first goal identified above.”
Smith added that “This first edition of the Tulare Voice e-journal has been brought to you courtesy of the consistently expressed desire of local citizens for local reporting.”
“This publication is intended to be Tulare’s primary news and information resource. It is owned by people you know and come in contact with every day. Together, over time, we can create a publication which truly serves our culturally diverse and agriculturally blessed community. Please join us as we strive to recognize and celebrate this place we choose to call “home.” Let’s WORK together Tulare!”
Editor Julie Fernandez wasted no time offering a hard hitting piece on Tulare District Hospital facing a financial crisis, with its future very much in doubt.
The reader should know that this reporter,John Lindt,had a hand in starting both newspapers although the paper had been sold to an investment group in 2005.The group hired current Porterville Recorder editor Rick Elkins to guide the ship but times were tough recounts Elkins in an article penned in January 2012-Sad to see Valley Voice silenced.
“Unfortunately, going weekly was not well thought out and the timing could not have been worst. It was the beginning of the recession and coupled with the increased costs, it made it difficult for the Voice to survive. Throw in some other internal problems, and its fate was set.”
Times have improved and the appetite for local news is still there. Fortunately, Julie Fernandez, who has been covering Tulare since 1974, is there to help make it happen and Tulare will get it chance to support the effort.
Good Luck.