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There have been many remarkable comebacks in media alone – Oprah Winfrey sunk as a news anchor, considered unsuitable for TV before rising to become, well, Oprah, and aspiring newspaper cartoonist Walt Disney was written off as lacking creativity before he discovered that a mouse was his muse.
The Franklin Times has also made quite the comeback. Originally founded more than 100 years ago, it folded in 1971. Since the upheavals of 2020, Franklin lost another local newspaper and two community magazines, including Times Media’s Rural Living.
However, the Times’ new owner has ensured that Franklin would not become a ‘news desert’ by re-launching this publication early last year after a successful relaunch of Times Media’s east Auckland paper.
Comebacks happen, sometimes with the help of a little luck, but mostly due to determination, good management and hard work.
In my last editor’s ramble in Rural Living, written at a time when more mastheads were sinking than during the Battle of Trafalgar, I commented about how vital it is for communities to back local media and for local media to back communities – some haven’t, this one has.
Coming back has been a common theme for Times staff members too – during the company’s more than 50-year history, many have left to pursue other opportunities only to return to the fold. After a couple of years away, I’ve re-joined for (effectively) a third time – I interned with the Times in 2001, returning in 2011 and, after two years scribbling for various publications, I’m now pleased to be back again.
However, the ‘new Times’ has also clearly benefited from a healthy dose of new blood too. Together, the team has done a remarkable job.
In particular, Helena O’Neill has stepped up to the mark as Franklin Times’ first editor. In her From the Editor column (March 27), she advised that the Times are changing, but they won’t need to change too much as Helena will continue to work on the publication – well, she better or I’m sunk!
Also, the principles of local media remain the same – to inform and advocate for our community. With the support of readers and advertisers, it’s clear the ‘new Times’ is already on a roll.
