The Citizen

     To continue to highlight Bellevue businesses celebrating major anniversaries this year, we chatted with The Citizen editor and publisher, Connie Rankin, who is actively planning for their 40th anniversary. 

  

     “The Citizen has been delivering weekly news of the North Boroughs since 1976, when the paper was started by Earl Rankin. A graduate of Ohio University with a bachelor's degree in journalism, Earl worked for a daily newspaper, The East Liverpool Review, as a reporter and photographer, and later in advertising for Gateway and Gannett publications before starting his own newspaper.” 

 

     “Earl died in 2001, just two weeks before the paper celebrated its 25th anniversary. Taking over as editor and publisher was his daughter, Connie Rankin, who had worked for the paper for several years before becoming a trial lawyer. She is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, and has a juris doctorate degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.”

 

     Recalling her earlier days as a budding reporter, Connie’s first assignment was to cover the Bellevue Borough Council Meeting – a meeting that began at 7:30 p.m., was convened at 1:00 a.m., reconvened the following day at 7:30 p.m. and ended at 1:00 a.m. the following morning.  I inquired as to the cause of so much rancor, and Connie responded, “The proposed purchase of a fire truck for the Volunteer Fire Company. ”

 

     Shortly after assuming the duties of editor, The Citizen was published in color format. Index cards listing customers’ subscription dates were replaced along with other outdated office operations; The Citizen embraced advanced technology and went digital. Three businesses began advertising with The Citizen in 1976 and continue to do so to date:  Classic (formerly Corsello) Chevrolet, Tom Friday’s and Miller’s Seafood Restaurant, all of which are family-owned and operated.

Connie strives to keep advertising affordable for the business community and local government.  Legal notices published in The Citizen saves the North Boroughs citizens thousands of dollars; costs for advertising in the larger area newspapers is 14 times more expensive than an ad in The Citizen. 

 

     Today, The Citizen continues to report the news of Avalon, Bellevue, Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Emsworth, Kilbuck Township, and Ohio Township. It remains one of the few independently owned weekly papers in the country. The Citizen is published online and maintains the regular Friday afternoon paper editions. “How we communicate and get news to people has changed radically in 40 years. Skill levels of reporters have changed. Some people prefer paper issues, some prefer digital. It is difficult to determine how much longer and viable print papers will be for the owners,” noted Connie.  Our hope is that The Citizen will be around long enough in both formats to celebrate many more anniversaries with the North Boroughs community. 

 

Stop in and say hello to Connie!

 

The Citizen
535 Citizen Way
P.O. Box 41051
Phone: 412-766-6679
Fax: 412-766-9679
E-mail: the.citizen@verizon.net