We’re the only locally owned news source covering Portage County, Ohio. Our mission is to help our community thrive.
Talking to people in Portage County, we realized there’s a big appetite for local news. You’ve told us you want a news source that’s affordable. But above all, you’re not getting enough coverage of the things that matter to you. A lot of you said you want more news reporting on your neighborhood or township.
With your help, we can fix that.
The Portager is a new, independent news site in Portage County. Our publisher is Ben Wolford, a 2007 Waterloo High School grad, Portage County resident and former Record-Courier reporter whose reporting has appeared in The New York Times and Newsweek. We’re owned by our employees and advised by a board of trusted community leaders.
We believe everyone’s story matters. Whether you’re a farmer in Shalersville, a professor at Kent State, a nurse in Ravenna, or a store clerk in Randolph, you have experiences and knowledge that can help push our community forward. Your worries matter, and so do your victories. Your story is part of the larger story of Portage County and our country.
We see you working hard to make yourself, your family and your community better. And that is newsworthy. That’s the story we want to tell.