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| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| Owner(s) | Davis Kennedy |
| Publisher | David Ferrara[1] |
| Editor | Kate Michael[1] |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | 5185 MacArthur Blvd. NW, Suite 102, Washington, D.C., United States |
| Circulation | 48,200 Weekly |
| Website | currentnewspapers.com |
| Free online archives | http://209.160.1.24/archive.php |
The Current Newspapers consists of four print and online weekly community newspapers in Washington, DC, with editions targeted to affluent communities in Georgetown, Dupont, Foggy Bottom, and Northwest DC.
While in reorganization the publications group, with new leadership, continues to provide readers with the latest news from the District of Columbia government, local government including Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC), citizens organizations, and other community news, sports, events, and entertainment for areas served since 1967.
The company previously owned a newspaper on Capitol Hill - Voice of the Hill - but ceased publication on May 5th, 2010, citing declines in advertising revenue.[2] This announcement came around 9 months after the death of the paper's co-founder, Bruce Robey, who was found dead due to an apparent heart attack in September, 2009.[3]
History
[edit]Northwest Current
[edit]The first issue of the Northwest Current was released on October 20, 1977,[4] succeeding the Potomac Current, which ran biweekly from 1968-1977.[5]
Georgetown Current
[edit]The Georgetown Current began publication in 1991, and covers news concerning the communities of Burleith, Foxhall, Georgetown, Glover Park, and the lower Palisades.[6]
Recent Developments
[edit]On September 8th, 2017, one of The Current's former printers, Gannett Company, filed a lawsuit against The Current through the DC Superior Court for $180,000 worth of unpaid printing bills.[7]
In early January, 2018, The Current filed for bankruptcy, having owed its creditors more than $1.25 million, with the free newspaper not having the money to pay its workers, distributors, or printers.[8] The Current filed a petition for Chapter 11 protection on January 3rd through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia, in which it reported less than $50,000 in assets and over $1.2 million in liabilities.[9] Many of these liabilities come from former printers such as the previously mentioned Gannett Company, to which it owed over $180,000, Bartash Printing Inc for $105,000,[9] APG of Chesapeake for $60,000, and former writers and photographers who are owed around $26,000.[10]
Coverage
[edit]Sections
[edit]Issues of The Current are typically divided into these sections:
ANC News- "ANC" stands for Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, and each version of The Current covers its own neighborhood's news in this section.
District Digest- This section covers DC news that would be relevant to readers of all four versions of The Current, providing more broad, city-wide news in contrast to the community news provided by the ANC News section
School Dispatch- In this section, students at local (usually independent) schools submit their own articles that are featured in the paper. (Many of these schools are part of AISGW)
Marketplace- The Current almost always covers local real estate, with special reports on unique and lavish houses on the market appearing weekly. Additionally, the local newspaper will often review cars and discuss up and coming shops and restaurants gaining a buzz in the community.
Sports- Most, but not all, issues of The Current will cover local sports, including news on recently traded players, local athletes signing to professional or collegiate teams, the scores of local high school sports games, and other local-infused sports news.
Events- Each issue of The Current will typically end with a list of event occurring throughout the city in the coming week, providing readers with possible activities to participate in around town.
Miscellaneous- In addition to the aforementioned sections, The Current publishes Letters to the Editor, Police Reports, Staff Editorials, and a section called "Pet of the Week," which covers rescue animals that are up for adoption.
Notable Stories
[edit]One of The Current's most notable stories was its coverage of World War I-era chemicals buried in Spring Valley: a neighborhood bordering American University in Northwest DC. Unbeknownst to the affluent neighborhood's residents, the area was used as a testing ground for munitions and lethal chemicals in 1918, and the chemical residue seemed to be the causes of the unexplainable illnesses residents were suffering some 80 years later.[11] While the chemicals appeared to be the obvious cause of the illness to the residents, the multiple surveys conducted on the neighborhood found inconclusive results.
It was amidst this debate in 2004 that Northwest Current staff writer Charles Bermpohl conducted his 345-house survey of the neighborhood, where he 160 cases of potentially lethal, chronic, and rare diseases.[11] The survey came as part of a special edition of The Current published November 10th, 2004, and was completely devoted to Spring Valley's risk from WWI poisons. One section from this issue was titled, "A Bush autoimmune link to area?" and discussed how former President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara both suffered from Grave's Disease and lived a few blocks from Spring Valley, where they could have been exposed to the toxic soil. This story went on to win a National Newspaper Association award for environmental reporting, making it one of The Current's most notable stories.[12]
Awards
[edit]| Year | Article | Author | Award | Organization | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "A Bush autoimmune link to area?" | Charles Bermpohl | Environmental Reporting Award | National Newspaper Association | [13] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "The Current" (PDF). Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- ^ Mathis, Sommer (May 5, 2010). "Voice of the Hill to Close Down". dcist. WAMU 88.5.
- ^ Mathis, Sommer (September 21, 2009). "Bruce Robey, Voice of the Hill Founder, Dies at 65". dcist. WAMU 88.5.
- ^ "About The Northwest current". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress.
- ^ "About Potomac current". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress.
- ^ "About The Georgetown current". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress.
- ^ "2017 CA 006213 C GANNETT COMPANY, INC Vs. THE CURRENT NEWSPAPERS, INC. DCJ". DC Superior Court Online Case Search – via CourtView Justice Solutions Inc.
- ^ Fenston, Jacob. "D.C.'s Current Newspapers Files For Bankruptcy". WAMU 88.5: American University Radio.
- ^ a b Gilgore, Sara (January 5, 2018). "Current Newspapers files for Chapter 11". Washington Business Journal.
- ^ Freed, Benjamin (January 5, 2018). "Current Newspapers Files for Bankruptcy". Washingtonian.
- ^ a b Jaffe, Harry (March 2013). "The Toxic Waste Pit Next Door". The Washingtonian.
- ^ Gould, Jessica (March 14, 2010). "OBIT: Charles Bermpohl -- Current Reporter". H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences Online. Michigan State University Department of History.
- ^ Sullivan, Patricia (March 15, 2010). "Charlie Bermpohl dies; reported on WWI munitions site in Washington". The Washington Post.
External links
[edit]
See Also
[edit]- Northwest (Washington, D.C.)
- Camp Leach
- Spring Valley (Washington, D.C.)
- Superior Court of the District of Columbia
- Community Newspapers
- Washington DC Newspapers
Category:Newspapers published in Washington, D.C.
Category:Publications established in 1967
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