By Adam Pagnucco.
The CEO of Today Media, which announced its purchase of MoCo360 and Bethesda Magazine on February 9, has begun to discuss his plans for the outlets with their supporters. In an email to MoCo360 members, who send regular contributions to the site, CEO Rob Martinelli vowed that “MoCo360 will provide even more of the news that’s important to you and the community.” Contrast that to what just happened at WAMU and DCist.
The email is printed below.
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Dear [Member]:
I’m the CEO of Today Media, the company that on Feb. 9 acquired the MoCo360 news site and Bethesda Magazine. I’m writing to you, a Member of MoCo360, to tell you about our company and about how excited we are to own the news site and magazine.
Today Media is a family-owned business that started in 1948 when my father, Angelo Martinelli, purchased a small printing company in Yonkers, New York. More than 75 years later, Today Media publishes lifestyle magazines in five suburban markets, Westchester County and the Hudson Valley, New York, all of Delaware, suburban Philadelphia and now, of course, Montgomery County, Maryland. We also publish local business publications, produce engaging events and informative digital content in each market, and have a Baltimore-based custom publishing group.
For quite some time I have thought that Bethesda Magazine and MoCo360 would be a perfect fit for our company. Montgomery County is similar to our other markets and Bethesda Magazine is like our other magazines. We don’t publish news sites, but MoCo360 was a big part of the draw for me. I’m impressed with how the news site is such a critical part of the community and how residents rely on it to keep informed.
Under the ownership of Today Media and the leadership of new editor Julie Rasicot, MoCo360 will provide even more of the news that’s important to you and the community.
I also want to thank you for being a MoCo360 Member. Covering local news is expensive, and we couldn’t produce the site without the support of you and our other Members.
In the near future you’ll receive an invitation to a MoCo360 Members event at which I’ll talk about our vision for the news site and eagerly listen to your thoughts on how we could make the site even better. I’ll be joined by Julie and Steve Hull, the founder and longtime editor and publisher of Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Beat (now MoCo360), who is serving as an advisor to me. I look forward to seeing you at the event.
Thank you again.
Rob Martinelli
President/CEO, Today Media