By Bryce Abshier – Contact Bryce@voiceofsouthmarion.com
As 2024 winds to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the year that flew by. This issue marks the last for the calendar year, a time to appreciate how far we’ve come and how special the South Marion community is.
Longtime readers might recall a feature called Some Thoughts Voiced, where publisher Jim Waldron shared behind-the-scenes updates from the Voice as well as his personal life. Today, we’re channeling that same spirit to offer a look at the decisions and milestones that defined this year, that saw the Voice grow into a multi-platform local news outlet, while maintaining the commitment to South Marion’s stories.
The graph shows two possible growth scenarios for the Voice’s Facebook followers. The blue line assumes the same rate of growth as observed in 2024, reaching over 32,000 followers by December 2026. The orange line assumes the same numerical increase each year, reaching around 17,700 followers by the same date. The shaded area between the two lines highlights the range of realistic growth.
Analytics and Most-Viewed Stories
This time of year, we always dig into the analytics to see which stories captured your attention. In 2024, this was a little trickier than usual. Midway through the year, the Voice transitioned the website from a third-party vendor located in Arkansas to publishing our website exclusively in-house. Despite the transition, one story stood out clearly as the most viewed: Community Mourns Loss of Jason Waldron. This article had nearly twice as many views as the next-most-read piece. Jason Waldron never knew a stranger, was a dear friend to so many, and remains in our thoughts daily. The overwhelming response to this story shows the impact felt throughout the community.
Following Jason’s tribute, crime stories once again dominated the list. We will get more into this topic later, as we’re sometimes asked about the uptick in crime coverage as of recent years. The next most-viewed articles included: Belleview Wawa Pit Stop Turns into High-Speed Helicopter Chase and Attempted Murder in Belleview: Hwy 484 Shooting Leaves Juvenile Wounded.
Rounding out the top five were lighter, but no less impactful, stories: “Belleview Pizza Bites the Crust” and “Local Daycare’s Overnight Closure Leaves Families Scrambling”.
The Crime Beat and What Drives It
“So, what’s the deal with all this crime stuff?” It’s a question we often hear. The answer lies in the data. Crime stories consistently drive the most readership, both online and in print. While we’d love to focus solely on heartwarming features, the analytics show readers want to stay informed about local crime, and we aim to deliver.
We’re fortunate to live in a community where law enforcement offers so much transparency. The Belleview Police Department provides weekly activity logs, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office has always been helpful with requested arrest affidavits. This ensures we can report on what matters most to you, keeping you informed on important local happenings.
A Multi-Channel Voice for 2024
2024 marked a transformative year for the Voice as we expanded more into a multi-channel news source. From the print product you hold in your hands to VoiceofSouthMarion.com and our growing presence on Facebook, our reach is broader than ever.
Consider this: in February 2023, our Facebook page had 2,200 followers. By December 2024, that number swelled to 9,100, a staggering 313% increase. Our most popular Facebook reels, like New Bellehaven Development with 108,000 views and Old Schoolhouses Still Stand with 75,000 views, show just how much our readers care about local nostalgia and new developments in the community.
The standout reel (or video), New Bellehaven Development, received an impressive 108,000 views, followed by Old Schoolhouses Still Stand with 75,000 views. Nostalgic themes, local events, and breaking news consistently drew strong engagement.
Free Digital Edition: Risk and Reward
Perhaps our boldest decision this year was making the online edition 100% free. While we continue to sell print subscriptions, we made the call to prioritize accessibility and engagement for our digital platform. Naturally, we worried about losing paid subscribers. However, the data speaks for itself: digital subscribers surged by over 500%, while print losses were almost nonexistent. This proves that those who prefer holding the printed newspaper in their hands in 2024 are sticking with it.
As we wrap up another eventful year, we’re reminded how much we love being part of South Marion’s story. Whether you’re flipping through this printed newspaper, scrolling online, or watching a Facebook reel, thank you for making the Voice a part of your story.
Here’s to another year of growth, community, and connection.
