Editor’s note: This story first appeared in the October print edition of the Chronicle.
When Walt’s Food Centers approached the Homewood-Flossmoor Chronicle about advertising in the October edition, the local grocery chain became the 100th company to support the paper.
The Chronicle’s print edition, which first came out in December 2015, has steadily drawn advertising support from dozens of area business owners, schools, organizations and even the villages of Homewood and Flossmoor.
“With every print edition, new businesses join us as advertisers,” said Patty Houlihan, public outreach manager.
“Advertising support is hugely important because it enables us to bring local news to the community free of charge.”
The Chronicle, started as a volunteer effort by Homewood journalist Eric Crump in 2014 as a Facebook page, soon expanded to a website. After longtime community journalists Marilyn Thomas of Homewood and Tom Houlihan of Flossmoor joined the team, the paper expanded again, becoming the Homewood-Flossmoor Chronicle, with stories published daily on HFChronicle.com.
The Chronicle began offering online advertising just as it expanded to print. First published by popular demand in December, the 32-page monthly edition has proved to be a hit with both readers and local businesses that wanted to reach them.
“Thanks to local business owners, Homewood-Flossmoor has a newspaper again,” Houlihan said.
Additional advertising opportunities are coming up in the November 17 issue with the Holiday Guide, the Chronicle’s first special section. Focusing on upcoming events, from school concerts to holiday bazaars to religious services, the guide has already drawn additional businesses that will be advertising for the first time.
Anyone who is interested in advertising in the Chronicle can contact Patty Houlihan at 708-799-1849 or [email protected].