In March 2005, Toledo Free Press began its decade-long journey to bring a truly free press to the Toledo region. The very first column I wrote, published in the inaugural issue, was titled “A newspaper for the city, its people and its future”. Our goal was to look at Northwest Ohio in a positive and supportive way, to practice what we call “community journalism.” We wanted to showcase the quiet developments and hardworking people investing in Toledo and working for its citizens. To highlight positive stories but also ask tough questions and call for accountability.
I’m proud to say I believe we succeeded on all accounts. Over that decade, TFP won six out of 10 years as Best Weekly Newspaper in Ohio, awarded by the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists. Unfortunately, most traces of those wonderful years were lost five years ago when the paper folded and the website followed soon after.
We are pleased now to announce the restoration of these issues in their entirety to this “active” online archive. This project began last year when community activist Sean Nestor, founder of local nonprofit Toledo Integrated Media Education, approached me about finding a way to preserve the paper’s archives and allow them to be easily accessible and searchable by the public. He said to me, “You guys were a huge part of the history during those years. We need to preserve it!” I could not agree more and I thank Sean for getting the ball rolling!
Also helping in this project was Sarah Ottney Grover (former Editor in Chief of the paper) and James A. Molnar (former Design Editor for TFP). These people still have a passion for the work we did and I thank them as well. I also want to thank the volunteers who have already helped put so much of our content back online, including Sean Nestor, Sarah Grover, Kim Gregor, Jacob White, Emily Desmond, Sarah Jo McDonagh, Delana Jamal and Heidi Buck.
We are off to a great start, but the job is not complete, so now we need your help. As you look at the site today, you will notice we have nearly three years of history completed (over 1,500 articles already restored). The rest of the content is currently in the form of PDFs of the published issues.
We are looking for digital archivists willing to commit at least four hours of time to restoring Toledo Free Press website content. You must have access to a computer or laptop and a reliable internet connection. You must be proficient in navigating web-based user interfaces (experience with WordPress is a plus). Strong attention to detail and proofreading skills are also a plus. Learn more about volunteering to complete the archive.
Completing the archive and getting it up and available is the main goal right now. That way you can search and enjoy articles and columns from Michael Miller, Brandi Barhite, Sarah Ottney, Jeremy Baumhower, Duane Ramsey, and many other familiar names, not to mention great local features from pop culture writers Jeff McGinnis, Jim Beard and Vicki Kroll and the news cartoons of Don Lee.
With the website restored, we will have the ability to post new stories and facilitate new conversations going forward. We don’t have immediate plans to bring back Toledo Free Press as it was, but now that we have the platform up and running, you never know … Please keep an eye on toledofreepress.com and you may see some new and exciting things as we work on our plans!
Our goal at TFP was always to provide a place where area residents could learn what was going on in the region as well as offer a Toledo-positive outlet where we could spotlight the good that is happening here. This website and these archives are a reminder of that goal, a restoration of the paper’s local legacy and a reflection of hope for a future of quality journalism in Northwest Ohio!
Thomas F. Pounds was president and publisher of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.
