Jeff Peyton, general manager and publisher of the Morning Sentinel, served as guest speaker during Wednesday’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Best Western Plus Hotel and Suites.

Peyton, who joined the Sentinel last November following its purchase by Better Newspapers Inc., spoke on the recent transition and the paper’s plans moving forward.

“[Better Newspapers Inc.] bought the Sentinel in November, and it’s part of a group of 45 newspapers stretching from Altamont through the Metro East into southwest Missouri. We also have about a dozen radio stations. It’s a pretty big and growing company.”

Peyton said Better Newspapers Inc. has nearly doubled in size within the last six months, and continues to experience growth, a rarity in the rural print business.

Speaking on the Sentinel, Peyton said Better Newspapers sought the business out due to its rich history and relevance in the community, adding that he hopes to continue the Sentinel’s legacy in Centralia.

“We want to be everything that a newspaper can and should be for a community,” said Peyton. “[We want to feature] government watchdog stuff, getting the word out about what’s going on in the community, and working with area businesses.”

Peyton said one of his primary goals is further strengthening relationships between the newspaper and the community, particularly business owners, as they provide a crucial source of input.

“I really believe that the newspaper and business community need to have a great relationship. We are two sides of the same coin, trying to make the community better,” Peyton told the chamber members in attendance. “When you do things, we need to report on them, and we need to let people know what’s going on in the world.”

“It’s the nature of the business that the newspaper is not what it was. Let’s just admit it. It’s not a seven day daily with 20 people in the newsroom. We are lean and mean and we do what we can with what we’ve got,” Peyton continued. “That means we rely more than ever on the community leaders to keep us informed so we can keep the rest of the community informed. I really see that as a symbiotic relationship.”

The audience posed several questions to Peyton, as interest was high regarding the Sentinel’s operations and future.

When asked about the Sentinel’s website, Peyton said the paper has plans to change its online platform within the next two months, stating the new subscription-based site would allow for online-only and downloadable versions of the paper and keep all important and breaking news ahead of any paywalls.

Discussing device applications, Peyton said he has begun the process of researching potential platforms, but insisted the website would remain priority for the coming months.

When asked about which nationally syndicated columnists the Sentinel will feature moving forward, Peyton said he would much rather keep the content local and focus on the stories and opinions of community members.

“If I could snap my fingers, I would say no [nationally syndicated sources],” Peyton proclaimed. “I would rather have local people on that page, writing either local columns or letters to the editor. I would prefer the commentary page to be by and for the community.”

Arguably the most pressing question came towards the meeting’s close, with one chamber member inquiring as to the longevity of the paper’s existence in Centralia in light of the layoffs that transpired during the transition of ownership and the challenging state of print media in today’s world.

“Our goal is to keep going. My boss [Better Newspapers, Inc. owner], Greg Hoskins, did not buy [the Sentinel] for any other reason than he loves newspapers, and he wanted newspapers,” Peyton explained. “[The purchase of the Sentinel and its sister newspapers] was about doing something that no one else is doing, and that is growing a media company. We’re going to be around for a while.”

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