Your Sunday Fort Worth Star-Telegram is about to get bigger and better. Here’s how.
We’ve been working hard the last couple of years to strengthen our team and our work here at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
That has included the return of a full-time reporter to Austin to cover state news with a North Texas perspective, the addition of a Tarrant County government reporter, the formation of a three-person investigative team and expanded reporting on topics such as education, health, social services, racial equity and the environment through philanthropic partnerships.
Today, I’m excited to announce another step on that path to better meet your expectations for local news coverage from the Star-Telegram. Beginning Nov. 14, we are re-imagining what the Sunday newspaper is and how it can better serve you, our readers.
What does that mean? It will be most noticeable in the A section, which will have a new look and feel, with more of a magazine-like front page and cover story. It will mean better stories around the topics you told us in recent surveys that you are interested in — such as local government and education and stories that hold our public institutions and officials accountable. We’ll also focus on utility — news you can use in your daily life.
We plan to add six pages to the typical Sunday newspaper, with more news and commentary, roundups of the week’s big stories on a local and national level and a look at what to expect in the week ahead. We’ll also have a page to highlight the work of our philanthropically funded Crossroads Lab team. In the Life & Arts section, there will be more content about health and homes.
As we get into the new year, look for us to expand this concept into the Wednesday newspaper, as well.
More staff, online content
And this initiative reaches beyond print. We will also offer more unique and useful content online that can be easily accessed through QR codes in the paper. QR codes have been around awhile, but we know more people have become comfortable using them during the pandemic for touch-less access to things such as restaurant menus.
The QR codes will open doors to things such as interactive maps and graphics, videos, photo galleries and databases that provide deeper context to the news. We want to offer our print readers an easy-access bridge to the digital world, taking advantage of the extra content we offer online that complements our stories.
We’re also investing in more reporters and editors and a visual journalist, too. The expansion will include a team that focuses on service journalism, producing content that answers questions relevant to your life here in Fort Worth, Tarrant County and North Texas.
Our ultimate goal is to more consistently provide unique, essential news and information that you find relevant in your life. I’m confident that these steps will help us better fulfill that mission.
