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.
 

If you like the idea of a locally owned news source in Portage County, the best way to support us is to sign up for our thrice-weekly email newsletter by entering your email address above.

The team

Ben Wolford, editor and publisher
Michael Indriolo, staff writer
Natalie Wolford, staff writer
Wendy DiAlesandro, contributing writer
Liv Sendelbach, intern
Kayla McLeod, intern
Roger Hoover, creative director
 

The board

Mike Beder, owner of Water Street Tavern, Venice Cafe and Franklin Hotel Bar
Roger Di Paolo, Record-Courier editor 1991-2017
Barbara J. Hipsman Springer, Kent State University emeritus professor of journalism
Bob Springer, Akron Beacon Journal commentary editor, 1989-2008

General contact and news tips
editors@theportager.com

Advertising inquiries
ads@theportager.com

Top journalists

Publisher Ben Wolford is a Waterloo and Kent State grad whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, The Boston Globe and the Record-Courier.

Reader focused

Our content is currently free for anyone to read. And we decide what to cover based on surveys and speaking with people in the community.

Locally owned

The Portager is owned and operated by Portage County people. The board consists of local people, including Roger Di Paolo, the longtime editor of the Record-Courier.

You have a story to tell

We believe everyone’s story matters. Whether you’re a farmer in Shalersville, a professor at Kent State, a nurse in Ravenna, or a convenience 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.

So, are you in?
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The Portager