Birmingham has a great story to tell. What’s not to love about our region? We are in a beautiful place, with one of the most giving communities in the country, increasingly progressive business and higher education sectors, not to mention great theaters, museums, proximity to the best college football teams in the nation and so much more. And, the people are amazingly resilient and genuine. I have been back in my home state for a year, and I am proud to call Birmingham home.

An important part of Birmingham’s story is its rich history. From the development of the steel industry to the Civil Rights movement, our history has helped shape Alabama and, to some extent, the path of our entire nation. And through it all, The Birmingham News has been right there, covering the good and the bad, the tragic and the triumphant. We are proud of our 124 year history, and we intend to be a vibrant part of this community for a very long time.


Our story is about the future, as well. We are gaining momentum. Recently unveiled, Blueprint Birmingham has the potential to help us focus on our priorities and transform the image of this great region. And, we have new leadership that has vision for what we can become. The list of recent successes is impressive: the opening of Railroad Park, the pending renovation of the Pizitz building, the approval of a new 4-star hotel along with an entertainment district and a new downtown baseball stadium. The News is proud to play a role in shaping our future. We don’t just cover this community; we care about making it better. And, I am personally committed to making a difference.


I am thrilled to be part of the story here at The Birmingham News. In fact, there is no place I’d rather be right now, than right here, working in this industry, with this company, in this leadership role at The News as we transform the state’s largest news gathering organization to a multimedia organization. We are embracing change, capturing more audiences, expanding to new channels and developing more innovation. It is a story we share with 301,412 readers every day. And reading our Sunday paper is an experience that brings together more people, 417,415 every week, than any other event in the community.


Today, we are launching a campaign that tells our story, because it is a story worth telling. Our mission is simple. We will reinvigorate our brand and its relevancy in the community. We don’t just cover this community, we care about making a difference. Ultimately, we want you to consider your day incomplete without investing time to interact with The News. So no matter where you’re reading us – in print, online or in the palm of your hand, it’s about insight, knowledge and perspective on the things that matter to us all.
We have a great story to tell – all of us – and we intend to share the stories that shape our past, present and our future. It is the only story where we are all main characters. It’s more than just news. This is our story.

Pam Siddall, Publisher