We’ve often said that independent local news is a community project—an idea that includes everything from readership and referrals to membership and advertising.  

In short, Mainstreet could not exist without community support, which is why we publish an annual Community Impact Report and post it to the footer displayed on every page of our website. We feel we owe it to you to be accountable for how we are stewarding this important community resource.  

What follows is a significant amount of detail about our year, but here’s a key bottom line: The editorial team produced more than 1,350 unique, bylined stories in 2024. That’s not only a new record for Mainstreet, but it’s an average of 112 stories per month—and doesn’t include briefs that run as “staff reports.”  

These stories included local government, elections, sports and events coverage, plus some of the most impactful investigative stories Mainstreet has published to date. 

The quick growth of our membership program, which launched in December 2023, has been a helpful gauge of our impact. We set an initial goal to reach 500 members by the end of 2024, and we’ve already topped 600. Wow!  

On the advertising front, we also set new marks for the number of advertisers (more than 200!) and ads, as our print edition expanded in both pages and number of editions delivered. Thanks to you, businesses tell us advertising in Mainstreet works.  

Our recent Circulation Verification Council audit found that 49% of our readers say they frequently purchase products or services from ads seen in Mainstreet Daily News. This is simply a phenomenal number and explains why advertising growth fueled the expansion of our distribution from 10,000 to 20,000 editions in 2024.  

Thank you for your continued support.  

J.C.  Derrick
Publisher

Building the team 

Mainstreet has been blessed with a large degree of staff stability, but we still had opportunities to add talent this year.  

In January, longtime journalist Gary Nelson began reporting for Mainstreet as a freelance correspondent. Most of his reporting has focused on the surgical shutdown at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, but he’s also contributed education and sports stories.  

In May, Lillian Hamman joined Mainstreet as our member ambassador and half-time reporter. Her contributions have included food stories, events coverage, and enterprise news reporting on the sale of The Village at Gainesville.  

In July, we added veteran journalist Mike Dame to our stable of correspondents. Mike, a UF grad who formerly covered the Gators for the Orlando Sentinel, has contributed deeply reported stories on Florida Victorious and the relationship between longtime Gator sports reporters Pat Dooley and Robbie Andreu.  

In August, we welcomed Neida Quinones Cruz to our office staff as an administrative assistant who handles, among other things, circulation requests and helps with ad design.  

Highlights 

• In February, Mainstreet joined forces with Fresh Take Florida to investigate the surgical shutdown at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital.  

• In March, we hosted our first member event, which featured a legislative session interview with state Rep. Chuck Clemons. It was followed by four other events, including legislative session interviews with state Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson and state Sen. Keith Perry. 

• In June, we launched Motor Marketplace with our first local dealers, Audi Gainesville and VinFast, which were soon followed by Main Street Motors and Tomlinson Motor Company.  

• Also in June, we debuted a classifieds section in the print edition.  

• In July, Mainstreet took home four Florida Press Association awards. 

• In August, the Florida Council on Aging presented Mainstreet and correspondent Ronnie Lovler with its “Senior Vision Media Award” for the Aging Matters series. 

• In September, we unveiled a new member benefit—a pop-up blocker for the website—while celebrating our 500^th member more than three months ahead of schedule.  

• In October, we doubled our print circulation to 20,000, making Mainstreet the most widely circulated newspaper in North Central Florida.  

• In December, Report for America announced Mainstreet would be one of its host newsrooms in 2025, supporting a new full-time education reporter.  

• Also in December, the Community Foundation of North Central Florida launched a local journalism fund to facilitate tax-deductible local support for the Report for America position at Mainstreet.  

Stories 

Mainstreet published more than 1,200 original, bylined local news stories for the third straight year. The final number topped 1,350—a new record.  

Mainstreet also published many breaking news and investigative stories that surpassed the depth of our previous enterprise reporting. Some of those investigations included: 

• The surgical shutdown at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital 

• The investigation that preceded Police Chief Lonnie Scott’s resignation 

• The firing and campus ban of the former water polo coach at UF and GHS 

• Details on the sale of The Village at Gainesville
• Click here to see Mainstreet’s top 10 news stories of the year.   

• Click here to see Mainstreet’s top 10 feature stories of the year.   

• Click here to see Mainstreet’s top 10 sports stories of the year.    

What they are saying 

“It’s refreshing to have local journalism back in Gainesville.”  

— Reader survey participant 

“Gainesville is fortunate to have front-line journalists who are keeping a watchful eye on what is happening here, enabling us to be informed citizens making wise choices.” 

— Diane McFarlin, Dean Emeritus of the UF College of Journalism and Communications 

“How refreshing it truly is to have a local publication that has a focus and intent to grow community relationships, human flourishing, and not just report negative news. Mainstreet is something that has been needed for a long time in Gainesville, and our community should be supportive of helping it grow.” 

— Craig Wilburn, Team Dynamo founder, Greater Gainesville Chamber Board Chair 

Looking ahead 

We have more in the works for 2025—including expanded education and rural reporting—but for now, we want to recognize the amazing progress of 2024 and thank you for being a part of it. It takes the whole community to make independent local news flourish, and it’s clear that Gainesville and the surrounding areas are hungry for strong local coverage.  

If you are reading this and have not yet joined this local news movement, click here to get involved by becoming a member today.