The last few weeks of Q3 were a whirlwind, but here we go with another Publisher’s Note giving a behind-the-scenes look at the local media business and the people who make it happen.
This note is part reflection, part field report, a dispatch from the trenches of trying to help local journalism thrive in Atlanta.
Biz bits
The seeds we’ve been planting over the past four and a half years are bearing fruit. We just closed our biggest print quarter ever: 332 printed pages, a 31% increase over average, with a 58% ad-to-editorial ratio. This number, while very inside baseball, is important because it fuels our ability to continue investing in quality local journalism.
Even though Georgia Voice, and the LGBTQ+ media sector as a whole, has faced a steep decline in ad dollars (our national rep firm said this is their worst year in 37 years), we just published our biggest issue of 2025, released an annual travel guide with the ACVB, and our newsletter continues to grow as an engaging, independent voice, which is more important than ever for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.
Our revenue mix remains steady, with 72% from print, 27% from digital, and 1% from reader revenue. I’m optimistic we’ll finish the year more than 15 percent higher than last year.
A note on reader revenue: support from readers — whether through subscriptions or voluntary contributions — is one of the most important ways local media stays alive today. The future of local journalism won’t be one-size-fits-all, but every experiment adds to the playbook.
Let me clarify on print
I received a lot of thoughtful feedback from my previous newsletter, including the particularly passionate text message above. While my thoughts on print and the AJC’s decision to stop printing haven’t changed, they deserve a bit of clarification.
Atlanta is about to become the largest U.S. city without a daily print newspaper. It’s because daily print doesn’t work anymore. The audience isn’t large enough, and the logistics are increasingly difficult. Designing, printing, and delivering papers to a shrinking number of driveways is a losing proposition.
There is a lot of buzz about the print revival because of publications like The Onion, Racquet Magazine, and my friends at The Bitter Southerner. But these are all relatively niche, and none of them print daily papers.
Yes, the AJC print edition may have been profitable, but a small and shrinking profit and long-term sustainability are two very different things. The AJC’s resources are better spent on products that have actual growth potential, like audio, video, and events.
My friend Patricia Murphy is a true journalistic treasure in Atlanta, but as I told her when I saw her at a recent Atlanta History Center event, I’m confident her mom can print out her AJC column and put it in a scrapbook with much less impact on the environment.
Ending daily print, while painful to some of our parents, is the right move for the AJC. That said, don’t be surprised if they eventually launch a weekly or fortnightly print edition, delivered through the mail, that provides value for advertisers and the lean-back reader experience we know works through Rough Draft’s print products.
Meet Sammie Purcell, Associate Editor @ Rough Draft
I want Rough Draft to reflect the cultural heartbeat of our region. That includes covering film, arts, and entertainment, which aren’t just nice to have coverage; they are economic engines and community shapers.
Sammie Purcell joined Rough Draft in early 2021 as our Brookhaven and Dunwoody beat writer. She was always clear that she wanted to pursue entertainment writing, specifically film criticism, something she’s done for us since late 2022. In fact, I’m pretty sure she’s the only full-time film critic at an Atlanta publication.
In our first behind-the-scenes look at our staff, I asked Sammie a few questions, including why she wanted a career in journalism.
I knew I wanted to write and tell stories through that writing. When I took an arts criticism class in grad school, it really solidified to me that criticism and arts journalism would be the best spot for my talents.
What was the first movie you ever reviewed for Rough Draft, and how do you feel about that review looking back now?
As far as I can tell, the first movie I reviewed was Sean Baker’s “Red Rocket.” It’s not my favorite Baker (a filmmaker I generally like), and I still stand by my thoughts, although I’d like to give it another watch. I actually don’t think the review is half bad – and I was ready to hate it – but I think I have come a really long way in terms of developing my voice as a critic. I think I’m far more voice-y now than that review would lead one to believe.
What does your writing process actually look like?
I love a good coffee shop – Rev and Bellwood are my preferred faves – and that’s definitely where I am my most productive. If I’m at home, I tend to go back and forth between a desk and the couch. A desk is preferred for interviews, the couch is preferred for writing (and there’s usually a dog snuggled up there, so that’s nice).
Do you ever get nervous publishing a strong take, knowing that someone out there will absolutely disagree with you?
Not really. The thing that I get the most nervous about is when I feel like my own take isn’t quite settled yet. Which, unfortunately, usually happens when the movie is really interesting. I often only get to watch movies once before I review them, and there have been more than a few instances where I’ve gone back to a movie after a review has been published and realized I missed something, or had a new thought that I wish I could have included.
What’s an upcoming film that you’re excited about?
I’m unreasonably excited to see the new Richard Linklater film “Blue Moon,” which follows songwriter Lorenz Hart on the opening night of his former musical partner Richard Rodgers’ new musical, “Oklahoma!” I love, love, love musicals, and with this story in particular, it feels like Linklater took a peek inside my brain and decided to make a movie just for me!
Sammie’s Top 4 Films:
- “All That Jazz” (Bob Fosse, 1979): Had to pick a musical, and this is one of the most audacious ones you’ll ever see. (Bonus musical answer: ‘Singin’ in the Rain’)
- “Little Women” (Greta Gerwig, 2019): A stone-cold classic about girlhood and a masterclass of adaptation.
- “Notorious” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1946): I love noir, and this is maybe one of the best, starring two of the hottest people who ever lived in Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman
- “Before Sunset” (Richard Linklater, 2004): This is, definitively, the most romantic movie ever made.
Read Sammie’s work on Rough Draft and subscribe to her weekly Scene newsletter.
The above interview was lightly edited for space and clarity.
Chatterbox
I’ve been pretty active on the speaking and podcast front lately.
- Brian Morrissey, a former colleague from over 20 years ago (!!), invited me to be a guest on his influential industry podcast, “The Rebooting.”
- Jamie Levitt Corry and I discussed “The New Playbook for Local Publishers” at the Beeler.Tech Base.Camp Savannah event (Oct. 7).
- Along with Moni Basu of UGA, Janel Davis from the AJC, and Evan Newton from the Covington News, I was part of the “Local Journalism: Needed Now More Than Ever” panel at the Emory Ideas Fest (Oct. 18).
- On Oct. 20, I’m speaking on the “What It Takes to Sell Local Ads Like a Pro” panel at the Business of Local Conference in Salt Lake City.
- On Oct. 28, I’ll be speaking at the National Trust for Local News Innovation Summit in Atlanta.
Objects in the mirror
What we are working on:
- It was our first Atlanta Pride as owners of Georgia Voice. The weekend was exhausting but invigorating, and we added 500+ email subscribers and met hundreds of readers.
- A 20th Anniversary issue for the City of Sandy Springs.
- Sarra Sedghi is expanding her work with us to include culture and events related to the FIFA World Cup 26.
- Summer Evans, a familiar voice to Atlanta public radio fans, has joined us to produce a daily Instagram Reel based on our morning newsletter. LMK what you think!
Things nobody asked
What I’m thrilled about:
- The living hostages have been freed from Gaza, and after two years of heartbreak, it’s good to see hope return. Maybe Delta will restart its nonstop to Tel Aviv from Atlanta. I can’t wait to get back.
What I’m reading:
- Bisnow’s look at polarizing developer John Dewberry and his eyesore at the corner of Peachtree & 14th.
- Macon, GA native Tom Johnson’s new memoir, “Driven: A Life in Public Service and Journalism from LBJ to CNN.” Getting to know Tom as part of my work with the Atlanta Press Club has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
Where I’m eating:
- Oaxaca – The guac is a piece of art you can eat.
- Avize – Don’t get thrown off if you don’t know what “Alpine cuisine” is. The NYT agrees enough to name it the only Georgia restaurant on its Top 50 list for 2025.
- Anis – Go for the salad nicoise and fries, stay for the affordable, fun wine list.
- Waffle House – Because I’m getting self-conscious that my list is too bougie.
What I’m watching:
- “Black Rabbit” – Based on the now-disgraced Spotted Pig (where I spent way too much time in my 30s).
- “Hightown” – Watching “Hunting Wives” again seemed excessive.
- If you missed it, go back and watch Cliff Drysdale’s farewell from the US Open.
What I was surprised to learn:
- There have been more weddings than funerals this year at Oakland Cemetery.
Until next time, thanks for reading!
– KP (keith@roughdraft.news)