THE INDEPENDENT NEWS
PUNGO — The Princess Anne Independent News, a community newspaper founded two years ago to serve southern Virginia Beach, is now an associate member of the Virginia Press Association.
The association is a professional organization representing more than 125 newspapers and 100 associate, affiliate and other members. An advocate for press freedom, the organization also offers resources to help small newspapers such as The Independent News improve and thrive.
“I’m humbled by and proud of the success our little newspaper has had over the past two years,” said John-Henry Doucette, editor and publisher of The Independent News.
“Our mission is to serve our communities by providing news and information for locals,” Doucette said. “We want to be part of the voice advocating for the right to do journalism. We want to do an even better job delivering original reporting, writing and photography to our readers. This resource will help that mission succeed.”
The Glen Allen-based Virginia Press Association accepted The Independent News as an associate member effective Friday, Oct. 14. The group’s long history of service dates back to 1881, when it was incorporated by a special act of the Virginia General Assembly.
The Independent News, based in the Pungo community, began publishing in 2015 to provide original news to southern Virginia Beach, generally south of Dam Neck Road, and Knotts Island, N.C.
It was founded by Doucette, a Pungo resident and veteran journalist who worked at newspapers in Virginia and New York.
The print edition is entirely paid for by advertising. It is delivered for free to nearly 200 locations in its coverage area and some locations in Virginia Beach’s northern reaches.
For information on The Independent News, visit its website by clicking on this link. The Independent News also is on Facebook, via www.facebook.com/princessanneindy/, and on Twitter, via @PungoPublishing. Doucette is on Twitter, via @JohnHDoucette.
© 2016 Pungo Publishing Co., LLC
Congratulations, John!
Thanks, Mari.