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Some readers have sent in emails asking what’s going on here. I’ve gotten a few phone calls asking what’s changed and if this is actually for real. They were all reacting to the fact that The Signal and the Santa Clarita Valley Business Journal, a Signal publication, both have ads on The West Ranch Beacon and The Beacon ad is on The Signal website. That, in and of itself, sparked a number of conversations because of my past criticism of The Signal and some of those who have worked there over the years.

There is no doubt that we have hammered The Signal over the years for all kinds of things from accuracy in reporting to making up stories. I had even written back in 2005; “The Signals readership has been declining in comparison to the tremendous growth that the valley experienced. In fact, there are very few Signal readers in the west side communities in comparison to the population. The truth is that The Signal has covered very little on the west side, which in turn has done nothing long term to build a readership.”

Well that appears to be changing for the better. The new Signal publisher, Morris Thomas, has reached out and is looking to make positive changes to The Signal. This is a very good thing because the Santa Clarita Valley deserves to have a thoroughly engaging community newspaper, both hard copy and digital versions, that serves all of our valley communities. And that is exactly what Mr. Thomas is aiming to do.

He is instituting a section called The West Side Story beginning today in The Signal that will run every week which will focus on specific issues, events and stories that effect the West Ranch communities. This will include occasional content from The West Ranch Beacon appearing in The Signal like Eve Bushman’s review of this past weekend’s TPC/ West Ranch Art & Wine Gala. Her article will be published simultaneously in The Signal with an extended version in The Beacon.

Nobody gets all their news or opinions from one source anymore; they access from a variety of devices and, with the speed of the networks increasing constantly, individuals can jump around more easily today than ever before. New technology is changing the way we get information in our lives. The rulebooks are being completely rewritten and linking up with other sites is a healthy thing especially for local publications; it’s economies of scale and it is smart business.

Morris Thomas, the new publisher of The Signal, sees those opportunities and seizing on those possibilities. He will be rebuilding our community paper back into the MIGHTY Signal once again; the watchdog of the Santa Clarita Valley. Hopefully publishing balanced and accurate stories that inform, expose and protect the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley. If he can accomplish that than he will be successful!

I am ever the optimist and hope that he will. I think that Morris is a good person based the interaction we’ve had. He appears to be a man of his word and has followed through on everything we have discussed. I like that straightforwardness; it’s refreshing coming from The Signal offices on Creekside Drive.

It also bodes well for our entire valley community. And I for one am thrilled that Beacon content will be appearing from time to time in The Signal and hopefully vice versa in the coming months. I am also happy to see more west side coverage being added to The Signal with the new West Side Story section as, if it is sustained, it will have a positive impact on adding to The Signal’s subscribership into the future.    

There has been too much upheaval and revolving door publishers at The Signal over the last decade so I am really hopeful that this new linkup with The Beacon is the beginning of something wonderful.  I hope that you will all check out the changes being made to The Signal and enjoy seeing some shared content in the weeks and months ahead.

P.S. – After my wife read this piece she asked me if I was feeling alright! Yes, I am and it just goes to show that change is a good thing most of the time.

Dave Bossert- Commentary 

Dave Bossert is a community volunteer who serves on a number of boards and councils. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.