WS Chronicle

To Our Readers:

As 2024 has come to a close, we reflect on a year of transition, growth, and renewed purpose for The Winston-Salem Chronicle. This has been a year of challenge and change – not just for us as a media institution but for our beloved community as well. Through it all, one truth remains clear: Our mission is as essential today as it was when this paper was founded 50 years ago. 

The Chronicle has always been more than a newspaper. It is a voice for the people, a platform for truth, and a champion for justice. This year, we recommitted ourselves to that legacy. Anchored by the kick-off of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we are rejuvenating our media operations and reimagining how we engage in the community. We have embraced a leadership transition that demands we sharpen our focus, become bolder in our approach, and remain steadfast in our pursuit of stories that resonate deeply with our community. 

This month we began that transformation. We are moving beyond the static deadlines of print, stepping into a digital-first approach that allows us to provide timely, impactful news when and where you need it. Our shift to daily online news ensures that the most urgent issues affecting our neighborhoods are met with swift and thoughtful coverage. To be clear, we will still print every Thursday as we have for the last 50 years.  

But this shift is about more than process – it’s about purpose. We hear the calls for accountability from our community, and we see the needs for stronger connections, more transparency, and solutions-driven journalism. Our role is to amplify those voices, expose what’s hidden, and highlight the people and stories that too often go untold. 

As we look to 2025, we stand firmly on our foundation while building something new. 2025 will be full of new rollouts from The Chronicle. We are reigniting our mission to be not just a source but the source for community news. This means more than reporting – it means responding. It means using our platform to hold local leaders accountable for small business development, housing, and economic justice. It means highlighting the community’s beauty and brilliance, not just its pain. It means walking with you as we all strive for a more just and equitable Winston-Salem. 

We will continue to be a partner in progress. Our goal is not to speak for the community but to ensure that the community’s voice is heard, seen, and felt. This is our vow as we move to prepare for the next 50 years. We invite you to walk with us, hold us accountable, and support us as we do the work that this community deserves. 

Thank you for your trust, your engagement, and your faith in The Chronicle. Together, we rise. Together, we build. Together, we reclaim our place as the voice of the people. 

With gratitude and determination. 

Derwin L. Montgomery 

President, CEO & Publisher 

The Chronicle