Eagle to move to free daily publication

As the evolution of Marco Island continues, so, too, does the shaping of the city's longest-running, island-based media messenger.

True to the "Born on the Fourth of July" theme, the holiday vitality locally will be will complemented on July 4 with the emergence of the Marco Eagle as a free, daily newspaper with early morning delivery Monday through Friday.

The shift from a weekly publication positions the Eagle to meet the growing demand for a vastly retooled, up-to-date daily print publication. The readership also will be heavily linked to a new and innovative Internet Web site committed solely to Marco Island residents who will be just a few clicks away from getting directly involved with the dissemination of the island's news, events and unique lifestyle.

"We are very excited about moving the Eagle to a free daily publication. We believe Marco is ready for its own daily newspaper and deserves one," said John Fish, President and Publisher of the Naples Daily News, which is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company. The diverse media company also is the owner of the Marco Eagle and a number of other publications and media outlets in the region.

"I think the community and our advertisers will like our new product and will embrace the positive changes we are making," Fish added "We are strengthening our commitment to covering the island every day of the week and the new Eagle represents the start of a new era for our newspaper in Marco."

A new Web site called marconews.com is being developed and will be tailored strictly to the interests of Marco Island.

Along with that, a user-friendly Internet tool called yourmarco.com will allow readers to become community journalists. They will be able to post their own information, stories and photos on the site.

The highlights from yourmarco.com will be included daily in the print edition as well.

The concept of the Monday-through-Friday Marco Eagle was officially introduced to the island's business community and advertisers 10 days ago and various community groups and civic organizations have been informed of the changes as well.

"It is an exciting change for everyone. I have heard nothing but positive input not only from advertisers, but from the organizations on the island," said Mary Quinton, Eagle advertising manager.

"The weekly Eagle has been a huge part of the community over the years," Quinton added. "With the growth of the island, it is time we grow the paper to five days a week in order to give the readers the opportunity to be informed about the daily happenings on the island and the advertisers the opportunity to reach their customer each day with fresh content, whether those customers are full time, part time or a seasonal visitor."

Eagle circulation manager Don Eggeman says he is up to the challenge of getting the daily edition delivered on time and in a manner that will not detract from the ambiance and cleanliness of the community.

"This is an exciting new adventure for all of our loyal readers and subscribers. The community's needs will now be served more effectively than ever before with our five-day-a-week rollout of the new Marco Eagle," Eggeman said.

"Home delivery will continue with the highest level of customer service with each day's edition, along with even more convenient single copy locations.

Eggleman said that with a press-run time of 4 a.m., the Eagle should be in the hands of all readers no later than 8 a.m. A crew has been assembled to "sweep" the city at all locations where bagged papers are not picked up on a timely basis.