From the Editor’s Desk: Hot off a new press

You may have noticed the paper looks and feels a little different this week. That’s because this issue marks the beginning of a new printing partnership for The Albany News. After many years of being printed in Lubbock, we’ve officially moved our printing operations to Midway Press in Dallas.

This wasn’t a change we had planned on making so quickly. When we bought the paper last year, one of my earliest concerns was whether our printing arrangement in Lubbock would remain stable in the long term. At the time, things seemed steady, but the newspaper industry has been changing rapidly. Unfortunately, the Lubbock facility is closing its doors later this summer, and like many small papers across West Texas, we were left needing to find a new printing solution on short notice.

After looking into several options, Midway Press quickly rose to the top of the list. They have experience printing weekly newspapers and have built a strong reputation for reliability and quality. I wanted to see it for myself, so last Friday I drove to Dallas to meet with our new printing contacts—Ethan Hirschy and Doug Jeffrey—and to tour the facility in person.

Both were incredibly helpful and took the time to walk me through their operation. Doug explained that the press runs almost constantly, with jobs scheduled day and night to keep up with demand. In fact, he told me this is the busiest they’ve ever been during his time there. That’s a good sign—not only does it mean they’re a trusted choice for many publications, but it also indicates financial stability and long-term viability, which is exactly what we need.

Midway’s setup is impressive. Their staff works in shifts to keep production moving, and they print for organizations across the state and country, both large and small. They understand the unique needs of weekly publications like ours, including the importance of sticking to strict deadlines so your paper arrives on time each week.

Transitions like this are always a little stressful. There are new systems to learn, deadlines to adjust, and shipping details to work out. But the team at Midway has already shown they are responsive, professional, and committed to helping us make this transition as smooth as possible. I’m confident we’re in good hands.

While readers may not often think about where their paper is printed, it’s a vital part of what makes this publication possible. The press is where all our work—reporting, editing, photography, layout—comes together in physical form. Knowing we have a reliable printer behind us means we can focus more on what matters most: covering the people, places, and stories of Albany.

Thank you for sticking with us during this transition. I’m excited about what this change means for the future of The Albany News, and I look forward to continuing to serve this community each week.

—David H. Waller