The Orland Park Prairie
Encyclopedia
The Orland Park Prairie is a weekly hyper-local community newspaper based in the Village of Orland Park, Illinois
dedicated to the coverage of local news. The Orland Park Prairie is published by parent company, 22nd Century Media
and is the sister paper of The Tinley Junction
, The Mokena Messenger
, The Frankfort Station
, The New Lenox Patriot
, and The Homer Horizon
. The Junction is delivered free every Thursday via the U.S. Mail to every home and business in Orland Park, IL. As of July 2009, circulation of The Orland Park Prairie is estimated at 25,600 homes and businesses.
, The Orland Park Prairie was founded in 2006. The first issue was May 25, 2006. The Orland Park Prairie can also be found online at http://www.opprairie.com. The Orland Park Prairie was the first of the 22nd Century Media
publications to go digital, hitting the web in the summer of 2007. The Orland Park Prairie relies one-hundred percent on advertising revenues. A readership survey conducted in 2008 by Robert Olinto and Associates revealed that 87 percent of residents read the paper and 72 percent of readers read every single issue of the publication.
publications believe in maintaining strict objectivity and neutrality on political issues. The company's papers do not endorse candidates nor do they support ballot items. Instead, The Orland Park Prairie strives to give readers all information from both sides, in turn, allowing readers to make their own decisions. The goal of 22nd Century Media
newspapers is to act as the voice, eyes and ears of its towns.
(Carl Sandburg High School
), Orland School District 135 and St. Michael School.
sends out to e-mail subscribers weekly topical e-newsletters, breaking news alerts, and a weekend guide called Weekly Scoop. As of July 2009, more than 3,500 people subscribe to Weekly Scoop.
Assistant Editor: Michael Gilbert
Sales Director: Adam Potts
Sales Director: Trisha Scott
Web Editor: Lauren Franco
Editor Heather Warthen was the first employee for 22nd Century Media and served as editor of The Homerian (now known as The Homer Horizon
) in 2005 before starting The Orland Park Prairie in 2006. Michael Gilbert recently ascended to the position of assistant editor replacing former assistant editor Jamie Lynn Ferguson. She is currently the editor of The Frankfort Station
.
Orland Park, Illinois
Orland Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States; it also extends slightly into Will County. The population was 56,767 at the 2010 census. The office of the Assistant Village Manager, Ellen Baer, states that the Will County section of Orland Park is industrial while the Cook County...
dedicated to the coverage of local news. The Orland Park Prairie is published by parent company, 22nd Century Media
22nd Century Media
22nd Century Media is a media company based in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. 22nd Century Media, founded in 2005, publishes six hyper-local weekly community newspapers. 22nd Century Media publications are delivered free to over 96,000 homes and business across the southwest suburbs of Chicago...
and is the sister paper of The Tinley Junction
The Tinley Junction
The Tinley Junction is a weekly hyper-local community newspaper based in the Village of Tinley Park, Illinois dedicated to the coverage of local news...
, The Mokena Messenger
The Mokena Messenger
The Mokena Messenger is a weekly hyper-local community newspaper based in the Village of Mokena, Illinois dedicated to the coverage of local news. The Mokena Messenger is published by parent company, 22nd Century Media and is the sister paper of The Orland Park Prairie, The Homer Horizon, The...
, The Frankfort Station
The Frankfort Station
The Frankfort Station is a weekly hyper-local community newspaper based in the Village of Frankfort, Illinois dedicated to the coverage of local news...
, The New Lenox Patriot
The New Lenox Patriot
The New Lenox Patriot is a weekly hyper-local community newspaper based in the Village of New Lenox, Illinois dedicated to the coverage of local news...
, and The Homer Horizon
The Homer Horizon
The Homer Horizon is a weekly hyper-local community newspaper based in the Village of Homer Glen, Illinois dedicated to the coverage of local news...
. The Junction is delivered free every Thursday via the U.S. Mail to every home and business in Orland Park, IL. As of July 2009, circulation of The Orland Park Prairie is estimated at 25,600 homes and businesses.
History
The third newspaper published by 22nd Century Media22nd Century Media
22nd Century Media is a media company based in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. 22nd Century Media, founded in 2005, publishes six hyper-local weekly community newspapers. 22nd Century Media publications are delivered free to over 96,000 homes and business across the southwest suburbs of Chicago...
, The Orland Park Prairie was founded in 2006. The first issue was May 25, 2006. The Orland Park Prairie can also be found online at http://www.opprairie.com. The Orland Park Prairie was the first of the 22nd Century Media
22nd Century Media
22nd Century Media is a media company based in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. 22nd Century Media, founded in 2005, publishes six hyper-local weekly community newspapers. 22nd Century Media publications are delivered free to over 96,000 homes and business across the southwest suburbs of Chicago...
publications to go digital, hitting the web in the summer of 2007. The Orland Park Prairie relies one-hundred percent on advertising revenues. A readership survey conducted in 2008 by Robert Olinto and Associates revealed that 87 percent of residents read the paper and 72 percent of readers read every single issue of the publication.
Editorial Policy
The Orland Park Prairie is focused solely on the coverage of Orland Park news. The Orland Park Prairie is part of a new series of hyper-local newspapers that focus on micro-stories within a single community. The Prairie is composed of four main sections: News, Sports, Local Living, and Life & Arts. 22nd Century Media22nd Century Media
22nd Century Media is a media company based in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. 22nd Century Media, founded in 2005, publishes six hyper-local weekly community newspapers. 22nd Century Media publications are delivered free to over 96,000 homes and business across the southwest suburbs of Chicago...
publications believe in maintaining strict objectivity and neutrality on political issues. The company's papers do not endorse candidates nor do they support ballot items. Instead, The Orland Park Prairie strives to give readers all information from both sides, in turn, allowing readers to make their own decisions. The goal of 22nd Century Media
22nd Century Media
22nd Century Media is a media company based in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. 22nd Century Media, founded in 2005, publishes six hyper-local weekly community newspapers. 22nd Century Media publications are delivered free to over 96,000 homes and business across the southwest suburbs of Chicago...
newspapers is to act as the voice, eyes and ears of its towns.
News Coverage
The Prairie specifically covers the village government of Orland Park, as well as Consolidated High School District 230Consolidated High School District 230
The Consolidated High School District 230 is a public high school district located 25 miles southwest of Chicago, Illinois. It has nearly 9,000 students in three high schools.-Schools:Benjamin Franklin High School...
(Carl Sandburg High School
Carl Sandburg High School
Carl Sandburg High School, Sandburg, or CSHS, is a public four-year high school located at the intersection of La Grange Road and 131st Street in Orland Park, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Consolidated High School District 230, which also...
), Orland School District 135 and St. Michael School.
Online
In addition to the print content, The Prairie posts interactive videos, photo galleries, and a calendar online at http://www.opprairie.com. Users can create an account, build a personal profile, post comments, upload original content, and interact with other users all at the click of a mouse. 22nd Century Media22nd Century Media
22nd Century Media is a media company based in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. 22nd Century Media, founded in 2005, publishes six hyper-local weekly community newspapers. 22nd Century Media publications are delivered free to over 96,000 homes and business across the southwest suburbs of Chicago...
sends out to e-mail subscribers weekly topical e-newsletters, breaking news alerts, and a weekend guide called Weekly Scoop. As of July 2009, more than 3,500 people subscribe to Weekly Scoop.
Staff
Editor: Heather WarthenAssistant Editor: Michael Gilbert
Sales Director: Adam Potts
Sales Director: Trisha Scott
Web Editor: Lauren Franco
Editor Heather Warthen was the first employee for 22nd Century Media and served as editor of The Homerian (now known as The Homer Horizon
The Homer Horizon
The Homer Horizon is a weekly hyper-local community newspaper based in the Village of Homer Glen, Illinois dedicated to the coverage of local news...
) in 2005 before starting The Orland Park Prairie in 2006. Michael Gilbert recently ascended to the position of assistant editor replacing former assistant editor Jamie Lynn Ferguson. She is currently the editor of The Frankfort Station
The Frankfort Station
The Frankfort Station is a weekly hyper-local community newspaper based in the Village of Frankfort, Illinois dedicated to the coverage of local news...
.