Arch City Chronicle to print last issue
by Talancia Shelvin
06-22-2007

The Arch City Chronicle, a newspaper with a mission to be relevant to its readers’ lives and “challenge the status quo,” will no longer be available in a printed version after the end of this month. The last issue will be designed in a retro-style similar to its debut issue.

The newspaper began as a conversation between founders David Drebes and Will Winter while picnicking with their wives. They complained about limited coverage of local news topics, and shortly afterwards the first issue was printed in September 2001 on a single sheet of paper. The circulation quickly grew to 20,000 from its initial 50 friends and family.

“I’m proud of the stories we did that clearly had an impact on public policy and impacted the political scene. I’ve been lucky to work with some of the best writers and designers in St. Louis,” said Drebes.

The newspaper’s Web site will continue to be published because there is an active, engaged audience. Last month 3,000 more readers viewed the newspaper online than in its printed version, and it is less expensive to distribute articles. Advertisers are encouraged to reach customers through the paper’s new format.

Drebes has currently begun a new service, Missouri Scout, a subscription service delivered via Internet that follows state politics at the insider level.

“I am really thrilled that St. Louis has an environment that supports independent papers, and Arch City Chronicle has been a great experience,” said Drebes.

Readers can access articles at the newspaper’s Web site at www.archcitychronicle.com.

You can e-mail Talancia Shelvin at trshelvin@yahoo.com.

LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES