Changes to your Statesman newspaper

TO OUR READERS

As you may know, on March 1, Hearst acquired the Austin American- Statesman from Gannett. Editor in Chief Courtney Sebesta and I previously shared our commitment to investing in the newsroom with a clear focus: to significantly expand local reporting. Equally important is our dedication to your newspaper platform.

Starting with today’s edition, you’ll notice a series of enhancements and changes:

• Local reporting and content: We’re strengthening our coverage by growing our state bureau; hiring for four local reporter/writer roles; adding four new roles focused on delivering breaking news; and including content from longtime University of Texas and sports columnist Kirk Bohls (via Hearst’s Houston Chronicle). In total, we’ll add or gain access to 22 additional local reporters.

• National and international news: We plan to fully transition from Gannett- owned USA Today content to Associated Press coverage for national and international news.

• Format and section changes: To enhance your reading experience, we’re making updates to the newspaper’s layout. Don’t worry, you’ll still find all the traditional sections you expect: Metro, Sports, Austin360, Nation, World, Opinion and Comics/ Puzzles.

A few additional notes:

• Delivery quality: We’ve invested more in our operations team because we take delivery reliability seriously.

• Reader feedback: Watch for invitations to share your thoughts — your feedback is invaluable to us!

• Publisher and editor engagement: We’re planning a series of Reader Town Halls to engage in meaningful conversations about your newspaper’s future.

Thank you for your patience as we complete the transition of our systems and infrastructure from Gannett to Hearst. If you have questions or feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to either of us directly.

We’re honored to serve Austin — one of the most dynamic and vital cities in Texas and the United States — and we’re proud to report on the stories that matter to you.

Thank you for being a subscriber. Warm regards, Mark Medici, Publisher mark.medici@hearst.com Courtney Sebesta, Editor in Chief csebesta@statesman.com Austin American-Statesman