What a Couple of Weeks It Has Been

Since returning to Robertson County on February 1, life has been a whirlwind—both personally and professionally. It’s hard to believe it’s only been four months since I came back to Hearne.

By now, many of you have heard that we’re purchasing The Silsbee Bee newspaper in Hardin County. As I write this, the purchase documents just landed in my inbox. They’re pretty standard, but seeing them made it all very real—we’re expanding. Phillips Publishing is growing.

The COVID-19 pandemic was devastating to the newspaper industry. Some publications held on tightly. Others, many with more than a century of history, didn’t survive. I have the deepest respect for those that endured. Around 70 newspapers shut down permanently. It was the industry’s version of the Black Plague.

Yet more than 700 newspapers made it through and began the slow process of rebuilding. Some have bounced back to their former strength, while others are still holding on. This paper—The Robertson County News—weathered the storm, but we were hit again with tragedy when our publisher, my wife Teresa, passed away after a long illness. I mention this not to dwell on the loss, but to recognize the survivor spirit of this paper—something that comes from our readers and the people who work here.

Now, five years after the pandemic began, that spirit is giving me the chance to grow this dream even further.

The Silsbee Bee reminds me so much of the Robertson County News. It has a loyal readership and a dedicated staff who clearly love their work and community. Meeting them sealed the deal for me. While the paper is underperforming—as many are these days—I still believe, as I did in 1998, that the heart and soul of our communities live in the pages of our local newspapers.

The Bee survived the pandemic. That alone speaks volumes. Its current owner purchased it in July 2019—just before everything changed. I bought RobCo in December 2019, and we both barely had time to settle in before the world shut down. He bought seven papers that year—and every one survived. Not bad for a newcomer to the industry.

Today, I can proudly say that Phillips Publishing is officially a newspaper group in Texas. I imagine a few jaws will drop at the Texas Press Association convention. I began my career as a graphic designer, and now I get to say all the hard work was worth it.

I’ve been fortunate in this journey—blessed with mentors and relationships that shaped me. None more so than Mark Henry. Mark started in circulation at The Huntsville Item and has done it all—publisher, president, owner. He took me under his wing early on, and without his guidance, I might still be designing ads at a metro daily somewhere, wondering “what if?”

For now, I’ll sign off—papers to file, cabinets to paint, a new office to finish, a website to build, and a newsletter to publish. I’ll share updates on the renovation next week.

Thanks for reading. Just knowing you’re there keeps me going.

See you next week—right here.