My Local News’ long-term clients, notable local figures and staff both past and present all came together at The Artichoke pub in Croxley on Friday, March 25 to celebrate the publication surpassing 2,000 editions.
It was an evening to remember for all those involved thanks to the efforts of the MLN team, The Artichoke’s staff and Popsicle Events, whose custom designs helped set the scene. Professional toastmaster/master of ceremonies, John Ashmele FGPT, was there to oversee the event and to make sure everything ran smoothly.
It was canapés and bubbles galore as MLN founder, Nik Allen, and indeed Dean Russell, MP for Watford, reflected on the rich history of the publication and its significance in the local community. Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, was also there to celebrate the milestone.
Looking back at when MLN first began in 2006 with the publication of AbbotsNews, Nik said: “My goal was to give residents an honest look at what was going on in Abbots Langley – something that wasn’t on offer in the publishing world in the village at the time.
“I wanted the magazine to showcase the good, the bad and the ugly, and to give advertisers a proper platform with an engaged readership and stories with a true hyper-local feel.
“That first issue laid the foundation for what is now an established publication. It was the community’s exceptional feedback that inspired me to do it all over again the following month. Now 2,000 issues later, I am extremely proud of what the My Local News empire has become.
“In 16 years, we have risen to 17 monthly titles; we print over a hundred thousand copies every month, have donated more than £100,000 to local charities, we help nearly 1,000 local businesses reach a local audience every month and we have a dedicated, loyal readership of over a quarter of a million people.”
Nik thanked his friends; many of whom he met through advertising and in networking groups; and his staff. Notable mentions were Hoss Photography, distribution manager, Gary Blakeley, and operations director, Misha Mistry.
Dean Russell MP added: “What I’ve found over the past two years as an MP is that what comes through in all editions of My Local News is an absolute passion for the community, and what that’s really brought to the fore is the ability to tell local stories about real local people, about things that really matter to residents.
“A huge thank you to Nik and the team for 2,000 editions – may many more thousands come.”
Mr Russell MP is no stranger to praising My Local News – just days before the event, he even gave the publication a shout-out in the House of Commons. He was kind enough to bring the Hansard recording of his comment to the 2,000th celebration.
Finally, a big thank you to all our advertisers and readers – we wouldn’t be here without you.
Photo credit: SJ Photography
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