| 2003:
A good year for the Delta Business Journal |
As
is usually the case, this time of year gives one pause to
reflect and be thankful for the blessings that have come
over the course of the past twelve months. This year in
particular has been a good year for us here at the Delta
Business Journal and also for our sister companies Coopwood
Communications and Delta Magazine; as always, the credit
goes to you, our readers, supporters, and friends.
Through our team here and especially through the hard work
of our executive editor, Jack Criss, the DBJ has seen substantial
and solid growth this year as we celebrated our fifth year
in operation. Thanks to new features, good writing and broader
coverage, the Delta Business Journal has become one of the
premier business publications in the Southeast according
to published reports and from the comments I receive from
our readers.
Some of the highlights in 2003 began in the late Spring
with our annual Profiles In Leadership Awards event whereby
this year we saluted cotton grower and businessman, Kenneth
Hood; Greenville businessman, Barthel Joseph; and Mississippi
Valley State President, Dr. Lester Newman. We were happy
to have Ed Nixon, brother of President Richard Nixon, as
our keynote speaker.
Not long after this event, we launched a new publication
that had been on our minds here for several years, our new
lifestyle magazine, Delta Magazine. Delta Magazine has been
an absolute hit in so many ways and we thank all of you
for your great interest in this new publication. It has
been amazing to have received so many letters and phone
calls from people from all over the Delta, state, and country
regarding their enthusiasm for this magazine. I also want
to pay a special note of thanks to Delta Magazine’s
editor, Melissa Townsend who is truly the guiding light
of the magazine. Melissa is doing an outstanding job as
editor and I continue to be amazed at what she comes up
with.
Another standout for the year here at the DBJ was the regional
live broadcast of the only gubernatorial debate in our area
between Governor Ronnie Musgrove and Governor-elect Haley
Barbour. I was the moderator for this event and I must say
that by all accounts, out of four statewide debates, the
Delta debate was THE gubernatorial debate as the fireworks
flew, not only between the candidates, but also in the audience.
The debate was so lively that the next evening on Fox News’
national 6:00 pm broadcast, news anchor Brit Hume made special
note of it showing clips of yours truly trying to settle
down the audience. It was a spirited debate and Mike Elrod,
general manager at WABG-TV6, did a masterful job of broadcasting
it as it not only aired in the Delta, but in the Meridian
area and on the Coast as well.
During the year, the DBJ was also mentioned several times
in articles in The Clarion-Ledger and other publications
throughout the state. In other media news, DBJ executive
editor, Jack Criss was a guest on ETV’s “Statewide
Live” program and WXVT’s “Delta Daybreak”.
And finally, the DBJ has begun to sponsor a minority little
league baseball team here in Cleveland called, well, DELTA
BUSINESS JOURNAL, and we finished second in our league this
year! We will finish Number 1 in 2004 I am certain of it!
And, our goals for 2004? Increase our circulation another
5,000; add several new sections in the paper; and launch
a Delta Business Journal “Spotlight on Business”
TV segment that will air three times a week here in the
Delta. Also, hopefully in 2004, Jack will finish his book
on the life of Governor Kirk Fordice that the DBJ plans
to publish!
I don’t want any of this to appear as bravado. I am
very humble at the success our companies have achieved over
the past year and proud to say that it all took place out
of our Cleveland, Mississippi office. Our Delta roots mean
everything to us here and I cannot thank our supporters
enough for the assistance, encouragement and belief in our
businesses that has been shown to me and my staff.
Have a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to
working with you all again in 2004! DBJ
As always, your comments are welcome. DBJ
Scott Coopwood
Publisher
