Joanne Burgess, and Richard Gurner with Warren Carr from Spencer David and BBC Wales’ Lucy Owen
Caerphilly Observer is celebrating ten years of publication this month.
Originally launched as a website on July 28, 2009, the independently-owned title successfully launched a fortnightly print edition in 2013.
Caerphilly Observer received funding to help produce its first four editions from Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Caerffili Cwm a Mynydd Rural Development Programme Partnership.
The grant was part-funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government.
Today, the newspaper has a fortnightly circulation of 15,000 and an online readership of almost 70,000 monthly visitors.
Richard Gurner, Publisher and Editor of Caerphilly Observer, said: “Ten years ago I had a crazy idea that I’d launch a news website for my community.
“If you had told me back then what we have grown into I would never have believed it.
“We are a small team without the backing of a big media corporation and I am hugely proud of what we have achieved over the year.
“We are proof that there is still a huge demand from readers for local news and a huge desire from local advertisers to be featured in local media.
“I’d just like to thank everyone involved with Caerphilly Observer for our success.
“Without our readers, advertisers, and distribution outlets we would be nothing.
“I am born and bred in Caerphilly and it fills me with pride when people approach me in the street to tell me how much they love the newspaper and website.
“All I have ever wanted to do was produce a news service that Caerphilly County Borough deserves.
“There are so many stories from our communities that need to be told.
“We try and cover everything, but again, without everyone’s support it would be pointless.
“However, I think we can do better. I want to encourage readers to contact us and let us know the types of stories we should cover. Would you like to see more court reporting? More human interest stories? More sport?
“We can only continue to serve our readers if they tell us what they want.”
Despite celebrating its tenth anniversary this month, Caerphilly Observer is not the first publication to bear the title.
The Bargoed and Caerphilly Observer was first published in 1904 by Rhymney printer George Jenkin Jacobs.
Gurner said: “I have only recently found out that we are not the first Caerphilly Observer. It was by a complete coincidence that I chose the title’s name without knowing of the 1904 version.
“The National Library of Wales has online archived editions up to 1919 and its records suggest it stopped printing in 1921.
“However, according to a book entitled A History of Printing and Printers in Monmouthshire it was still publishing around 1925.
“I would love to find out more, so if any readers can help then please get in touch.”
