New local magazine to make appearance

There’s no doubt that Thurston County suffers from a lack of local media.

The recession, combined with new technology has just about made the printed product obsolete.   It’s place has been filled with dozens of local bloggers (like this one), but that doesn’t mean that there still isn’t room for another printed product.

HIBU, a company which prints the Yellow Book has entered a new realm of production.   It has entered the field of local media and will produce its first product in May.

Called West Olympia Life, the full color magazine will soon be appearing in 150 waiting rooms and businesses across West Olympia.  In addition, another 5000 homes on the west side will get the monthly magazine, free, in their mail box.

According to a letter sent out to possible advertisers, the new magazine will be filled with 100 percent local stories that the community wants and loves to read about.

If the product is successful, HIBU will publish another local magazine this fall called Lacey Life which will cover the Lacey area.

In the last 40 years, more than two dozen newspapers, magazines and other periodicals have tried to gain a foothold in Olympia, Lacey and Thurston County, and every one of them has folded.

And, this was before the digital revolution made printed products almost obsolete.

But, HIBU has a successful product and is currently in some 500 locations across the United States.

It’s always exciting when a new product enters the market.  It’s even more exciting to me when that new product happens to be printed on paper.

I wish West Olympia Life and Lacey Life, and all other publications – – success. There can never be too much coverage of local activities.

But, the track record of new publications isn’t too great.  Two dozen started, two dozen failed.   Let’s hope this new publication does better.