Community Support Is the Name of the Game

Halston Media, NY

In response to stay-home orders at the start of the pandemic, Halston Media’s publications released a special section of games and puzzles to help give readers and their families a positive and entertaining focus. The section release also provided an opportunity to promote support for local businesses and their own publication’s role in the community.

CREATE: Halston Media published “Fun & Games,” a Templated Special Section (TSS) title from Metro, as a community service at the start of the pandemic. Publisher Brett Freeman wanted to do something for the community, as kids and families adjusted to upheaval of their usual routines, activities and social interactions.

SELL: The section included ads from a number of local advertisers, all focused on helpful pandemic-related updates to operations, such as telephone and online services and local takeout and delivery. The publication also included a note at the start of the section recognizing the section’s sponsor advertisers and asking readers to support both local businesses and newspapers through challenging economic times.

BENEFIT: Halston Media released this section as a community service, and they received a lot of positive feedback from readers as a result. It also gave the publisher an opportunity to communicate the need for local residents, local businesses and local newspapers to support one another at a time when community connection is critical to everyone’s future.