Read on to find out what’s new, what’s changed, what’s coming, and how to get the best digital services deal in Mobile and Baldwin counties right now.
Dear Local:
On a July afternoon in 2002, almost 19 years ago, two newspapers served the locals of Mobile Bay.
One was the “established” paper of the area. The other was a brand-new newspaper with an odd-shaped cover and a funny name.
They had similar goals, these two newspapers.
Both carried stories about the area, both offered solid reporting, and both were always on the lookout for relevant, little-known stories to keep locals informed.
Over time, things changed.
The world wide web turned the publishing industry upside down. Respected print newspapers now exist alongside gossip blogs and social media rumor mills.
After 19 years, a review of the two papers is in order. Both are still in business. Both are publishing print and digital versions of their stories. And both – it turns out – are still serving stories to the locals living around Mobile Bay.
But there is a difference. A big difference. And a vitally important one if you care about the area.
One of the papers shut down their local offices, fired 95 percent of the staff, and retreated to Birmingham. They now publish stories to Mobile Bay locals from 257 miles away.
The other expanded their headquarters in Mobile and continues to report on local stories as only a local can, with first-hand accounts and detailed investigations. This newer newspaper is now the one asking the tough questions and going where no other local media will go.
What Matters To The People In And Around The Azalea City
If you wonder, as we have, what makes the difference in the quality of news for someone in and around Mobile Bay?
It isn’t that they just get “any” news, or that they get “any” story. Today any person can summon hundreds of stories with several simple keystrokes on their keyboard.
And it’s not about speed. Some issues require depth, digging, and finding out the other side of the story. story. It isn’t always about being first with a story — it’s about being right.
The difference in the news delivered to the readers lies in the interest each reader takes in their city, the pride they take in living there, and how she or he makes use of that news to either support the good… or affect change.
You can’t support an event if you don’t know about it. You can’t support your local businesses if you don’t know what they offer. You can’t elect your local officials if you don’t know their take on the issues.
And that is why I’m writing to you and to locals like you about Lagniappe. For that is the whole purpose of Lagniappe’s digital news service – to give readers knowledge about local issues that matter the most to the area.
Knowledge that they can use to support the city, elect their officials, enjoy events, support local businesses, so that living in Mobile and the Eastern Shore is enjoyable and a safe place for everyone.
And Lagniappe gives locals the information they’ll need, when the need arises, to voice concerns to improve their quality of life.
The ONLY Local Paper... With A Funky Cover...
And A Knack For Digging Deep
You see, Lagniappe is a unique publication.
It doesn’t look like a traditional newspaper, because it’s not a traditional newspaper. Each week the stories range from arts and music, to food and restaurants, to business and the local economy.
As a weekly, Lagniappe publishes pages on a range of interests that matter the most to the people of Mobile Bay. It’s the area’s most comprehensive paper. In fact, it’s the only remaining truly local newspaper publishing today.
And because Lagniappe is a weekly, the reporters can dive into details of the important stories that aren’t being reported in the mainstream media. Every issue is put together by a staff of local area experts with connections to local leaders, insiders, and authorities in business, arts, government, sports, and education.
Lagniappe gives you all the local area news you need – across the topics you love and the topics that make our area so unique.
But the range of the paper is only part of the true value. Lagniappe brings you stories, columns and features you just won’t find elsewhere in the area.
It brings you detailed stories each week because it’s the only news source not beholden to the 24-hour news cycle or to a corporate behemoth headquartered 1,000 miles away. You get the full story because we have time to investigate both sides of the story.
But that’s only the start.
Never in The History of Mobile Bay
Has a Paper Meant More Things to More People
Over the years, the feature stories in Lagniappe cover the best of the city as well as the area’s biggest scandals.
These important stories are combined with ongoing arts and music reporting that makes the area so unique. Every aspect of Mobile Bay is covered. Between the covers you’ll find articles on festivals, the economy, new industry, arts, music, our waterways, our airport, the Mobile port, and the political direction of our local city governments.
Lagniappe is also published online, with news stories and updates uploaded to the website first. And in keeping up with the times, a digital subscription is available for every household to use up to 5 devices, enough for your entire family.
Today the stories are read by business owners, city leaders, up and comers, and informed locals.
If you have never read Lagniappe, you cannot imagine how useful is can be to our wide range of locals.
On the rest of this page, you’ll discover everything you get when joining the other local readers of Lagniappe.
You’ll see firsthand what Lagniappe offers, and what you get when you join. We hold nothing back and you can see in full effect all of the things we do well for the readers of Mobile and Baldwin counties.
You’ll also find two subscription deals available on this page – one monthly, one yearly.
The yearly deal comes with one month free… and it is the best deal we offer – and a perfect way to get all the details on the big stories around town.
Read on and decide for yourself.
If you feel, as we do, that this is a fair and reasonable offer, then click the button below to become a part of the Lagniappe family. When you join, you’ll see firsthand what our digital news service is doing for thousands of locals in the area.
Click the subscribe button below, and we will start serving you immediately.
Also, read below to find out about a special deal available now when you sign up for a year of local news from Lagniappe.
Staying informed around Mobile Bay is more than just catching a 30 second spot at dinner… or reading a two-line tweet.
It’s digging into the details… getting the other side of the story… to paint a complete picture of what’s happening. And that’s something no tweet or post could do.
And while social media is a fun place for viewing photos, if you only get your news from Facebook and Twitter then you’ll spend hours each day following dozens of different accounts just to keep up with everything going on around Mobile Bay. And even then, you’ll only get a partial piece of the story.
And speaking of social media…
Often you’ll find stories making the rounds on social media accounts that were first uncovered by Lagniappe. We don’t mind, because by then we’re already onto the next round of details, peeling back the layers ever further, to deliver information others aren’t reporting. While the general public is first hearing about the story, Lagniappe readers are briefed and up to date on what’s really going on.
And because our paper is weekly, others will never be able to dig into the details as we can – and we do – on a weekly basis… story after story… for the past 19 years.
Perhaps that’s why the Alabama Press Association gave Lagniappe 21 awards last year for the local stories that matter the most to you, including columns from our opinion and feature writers.
Or why our local community events, like the Nappies, are so well received by almost everyone in the area, with the 2020 voting totals topping one million votes.
Or why the oldest regional journalism contest in the United States handed Lagniappe more awards than any other paper in our division last year, as well as awarding us the top spot in the division.
No newspaper keeps you better supplied at all times with more of the area’s top stories than Lagniappe.
Each week, you learn from our network of sources, reporters, and tipsters what’s been going on in Mobile and Baldwin county in the past week – news, updates, developments, trends.
But in today’s world, we know it’s hard to resist the magnetic attraction of social media news. And it’s getting harder and harder to keep up to date on everything going on.
Is digging into social media for tidbits of local news really how you want to spend your day? For many of our readers, we’ve heard the answer is no.
That’s one of the reasons a local paper is so important.
In the world of social media, it is easy to mistakenly miss out on local stories you should be concerned with… if only you were given the full details.
The most common question we get about joining the other digital members is –
Why join when I can get Lagniappe free around town?
The answer is simple.
Lagniappe has been, and always will be, a free print paper you can find around town.
In fact, one of the not-so-secrets to our two-decades of success has been the hundreds and hundreds of local businesses who fully embraced our paper.
They support and join our love of Mobile and Baldwin counties. It’s also why the Nappies have become the top reader’s choice awards for locals like you. Local business is important to everyone around Mobile Bay.
But our digital membership has grown into an impressive collection of new technology services for modern readers that gives locals an advantage that just isn’t possible with a print paper.
From instant story updates to our new exclusive local podcast, digital services are now the preferred method for locals to stay up to date.
Here’s a sample of what you get when you join:
But that’s not all.
Our coverage has expanded in sports. As you read earlier, you now have the most capable team of sports reporters in the area. Our roster of writers covering sports rivals the top papers in the state.
And, lastly, our investigative reporting has exploded.
If you knew how many insider leads we get each week about corrupt and possibly illegal activities, you would be shocked. And we spend every day tracking down details so you get the facts behind what’s going on.
Finally, when new business announcements are planned and released, our staff is granted early access to exclusive information and details so we can deliver the information to our readers.
And that will continue in 2021, in 2022, and for as long as you are a digital member.
We will continue to offer a print paper. In fact, if you don’t like digital or you’re not digitally savvy, we encourage you to pick up a paper at your favorite local hangout. Or have one delivered.
When you do, you’ll get the same quality reporting from local journalists who actually live in the area.
But for the digital savvy business owners who value their time and want instant access without worry of missing out on an issue or a web-only story, then a digital subscription is right for you.
Here’s what some of our current members have said (used with permission):
“Weekly interesting info on relevant issues in Mobile and Baldwin county. There are so many perks to subscribing, like the podcast which I didn’t even know existed.”
“News that I wanted to follow was available faster.”
“Don’t have to run all over town trying to get my free copy from the store after everyone beat me to it.”
“Earlier access to the news is great.”
“I found myself following local news even more closely with a subscription.”
“Nice to be able to access back issues when I have missed an issue or two.”
“I knew I was supporting a credible news organization in a time when such outlets are declining and knew I would receive my news upon publication, as opposed to going out and picking one up randomly at street boxes.”
“Editors of this newspaper do a very good job of talking about the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to things that go on in Baldwin County and Mobile County.”
“I have access to the stories that my friends can only read the headlines for. I am able to be informed of local issues, events, etc.”
“I love being able to access the articles the moment they’re posted”
“Easy to read on iPhone when I have time and don’t have to have the printed version. Convenient.”
“I subscribe to your printed page, too. Sometimes I just like to have a real news paper in hand. You guys keep it up. You’re doing Mobile a great service.”
“It is much easier to keep up with in-depth coverage of community news and events.”
To join them and us, simply click the button below to see the ordering options..
If you’re already considering joining us as a member of our local news family, we thank you for your confidence. It won’t go unnoticed. Each week our staff works hard to bring you everything we know about what’s going in Mobile and Baldwin county.
Here are four main areas that our readers say makes us stand apart from every other news source in the area today.
Scroll down to read on.
Digging into stories that don’t fit into the social media 24- hour news cycle is what we do. We turn the ideas upside down and inside out – that’s the only way to get to the core story. And you can rely on the fact that the journalists covering the stories also live here. They know the area. They know the ropes. They know who to call to get answers, who’s likely telling the truth … and who isn’t.
2,225 hours. That’s our estimate of how long we’ve spent in-person at Mobile City Council meetings. Every week, Lagniappe reporters are there. You wouldn’t believe some of the things we’ve heard over the years. But if something happens that you need to know, you’ll get an update on what’s important to you.
Every year, we dedicate a huge portion of our coverage to the big seasonal topics in the area. Events like Hangout Fest and Mardi Gras. Our local readers’ choice Nappie Awards. What’s the hot event this year? What Mardi Gras route is going backward? Who is headlining at the latest festival? Is the Moon Pie drop still a thing on New Years? Who’s coming for a show at the Saengar Theatre? Find out in Lagniappe.
Lagniappe is home of area’s top Reader Choice Awards. In 2020, there were over a million votes cast, and that generated well-deserved publicity for the top vendors. 2021 will be even bigger. Want to know if your favorite spot is a top company in the area? See if they’ve won a Nappie.
If they have, chances are they’ll be proudly displaying one of our distinctive Nappie banners.
The people of Mobile Bay are about – among other things – Mardi Gras, fishing, nature, sunsets, water ways, art, crafts, music (from rock ‘n roll to country), joy , home cooking, dining out, azaleas, oaks, a fair amount of culture, centuries of history, a few famous faces, a world record or two, and a good deal of locals who love and adore the area.
There’s nothing one-dimensional about Mobile and Baldwin county locals.
We’re as varied and unique as they come.
Lagniappe covers stories that mean something to all of these people.
We’re the only paper in the history of Mobile Bay that has meant so many things to so many people in town.
It’s a paper for news, but that’s only the start.
We’re as varied as you are. And cover the topics you love to know about.
Isn’t it time you read a newspaper that looks at all the things that are great about our areas – from the same standpoint as you?
Today the world is passing through an unusually traumatic moment in it’s history. And as we look to the future, there are uncertainties affecting our life. They’re probably affecting you, too – raising doubts about what to do next and what’s coming next for your friends, family, and more in Mobile and Baldwin counties.
The reporting in Lagniappe, I’m certain, can help clear up a number of these uncertainties…especially as things return to normal. You’ll have a better understanding of the problems. A more focused idea of your options. You’ll no longer be working with rumors, but with facts. You’ll no longer be surprised by events because you’ll have seen it coming.
And you’ll be joining a family that loves the area just as much as you do.
Read on to find out what you get when you become part of the Lagniappe family.
Lagniappe is the only media outlet willing to fight the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office all the way to the Alabama Supreme Court over body camera footage. We were the only ones to break open the story on a mysterious $4.1 million retirement package for the people running the Bayou La Batre Housing Authority. In fact, just about every week we’re breaking big news no one else has. You’re never going to say “Aw Lagniappe’s too scared to cover this story.”
Who’s making moves on Government St? Which career politician is lining the pockets of his brother in law? Which Mayor has been dealing with funny money to pump up the City finances?
The future of Mobile and Baldwin is with the kids. What are they being taught? What’s being pulled from the curriculum? What’s in store for our public school system? How are the colleges handling Covid-19? What about our lower, middle, and high schools? How are your kids being prepared for the future?
Lagniappe is a small, local business, so we understand how vital they are to our community, and we work hard to let our readers know what our unique businesses are doing. Whether its our weekly business column or hard news reporting, Lagniappe is keeping an eye on the things that matter.
In the past 18 years, Mobile’s industry has changed. We’ve landed a billion dollar airline, a billion dollar retail giant, a hundred million dollar new airport, and much more. Along the way, our city has moved up from a single industry port city to a growing multi-national industry player. And Lagniappe reported all the details for all the big moves every step of the way.
In an area filled with artists, who’s rising to the top? What’s gaining speed? Who’s finally getting recognized? Which recluse is peeking out their door and thinking about a new show? How are the area museums doing? What about the art not in the museums? The murals… the paintings… the iron works… the oyster walk… the sculptures. All of these are covered by our Arts Editor, Kevin Lee, who’s almost as famous in the local art scene as the artists themselves.
Who’s fighting for our area’s natural resources? Who should you be cheering on? Where can you learn more? Even if you aren’t in the environment freedom fighting mood but still want to cheer from the sidelines, you’ll find out who’s the top organizations that are making changes in the area.
Headliners. Interviews. Reviews. Live music goes hand in hand with the area. Each issue you’ll see our dedicated columnist working harder than James Brown… bringing you the lowdown in the area… the behind the scenes commentary… and top interviews with the artists performing in town.
Lagniappe has expanded it’s sports coverage by adding award-winning former Press-Register columnist and reporter Tommy Hicks as our sports editor. With Hicks, alongside columnists Mark Bryant and Randy Kennedy, there’s more than a good chance that Lagniappe will become the #1 go-to source for sports news… both locally and across the state.
The area’s top Reader Choice Awards. In 2020, there were over a million votes and generated well-deserved publicity for the top vendors. Today, want to know if your favorite spot is a top company in the area? See if they’ve won a Nappie.
Do you miss the days of sitting down and reading a paper on Sunday?
So do we.
That’s why we created Sunday Brunch. It’s not the same as the good ‘ole days, but it’s the next best thing.
Sunday Brunch is an email newsletter sent to you each week. It will fill you in on the things you might have missed while living your life. It gives you the relevant details. And it pulls back the curtain to give you a sneak peek at the inner working of Lagniappe, Mobile County, and Baldwin County.
The Sunday Brunch e-newsletter gives you the rundown of the big news in the past seven days, along with some behind-the-scenes information.
Each newsletter has links to the full story, so you pick and choose which stories matter to you and go read them completely.
Digging into details is what we do. You get all the information so you can make decisions about matters yourself.
Because we publish weekly, you get in-depth reporting others can't cover due to the 24-hour news cycle. You get the stories others can't bring you.
News. Politics. Elections. Mardi Gras. Music. Our Port. Waterways. Local Business. Big Business. Beaches. Nappies. Fun. And that's just the start.
Local news from Lagniappe is vital to a healthy community.
And the reviews from locals just like you have been outstanding.
The newspaper is published weekly, so you’ll have plenty of time to read about what’s going on – REALLY going on – in and around Mobile Bay.
You’ll gain in-depth perspective on local news… for mulling over who to support in town… what’s happening in local business… discovering what’s new in the area… and finding out the top things to do when you want to go out on the town.
When you sign up on the website for a full year of access to Lagniappe’s award-winning reporting, you’ll immediately began to feel a change as you become up to date and current on things going on in the area.
Plus, after a year of subscribing to Lagniappe, you’ll be the smartest one in your circle of friends and up to date on everything that matters in Mobile and Eastern Shore.
To subscribe, here’s what to do next.
In the section below, you’ll see two options for joining — digital only or getting digital access as well as a paper mailed to your home.
When you choose your news option, you’ll be given a choice to join monthly or yearly.
If you choose Yearly, you’ll be given a free month and it will automatically be included in your total. This is the best option if you want the best deal and want to make a single payment right now.
Here’s what you get:
…and the knowledge that you are helping local business.
It’s time to get online and subscribe right now.
Sign up for a year of access and get ONE MONTH FREE.
It’s a special gift for subscribing today.
So take a moment right now to become a member and support your local community by subscribing online by clicking one of the options below.
Join us, won’t you?
Scroll just a few more inches to see two options for joining.
2 Ways To Join
the Smartest Locals
Around Mobile Bay
Have print paper mailed to your home! You get to sit back and read in your favorite rocking chair, over coffee, or when it’s convenient for you!
Plus, our crossword is included in every print paper. (Not available on the website. ) AND… you’ll get all the features of the Digital Access Plan too!
Read all the stories on our website 24 hours a day. The subscription give you access for up to 5 devices, which is basically your whole family.
There’s no faster way to keep up to date and no local paper giving you more stories than Lagniappe. Click the button below to find out more and get full pricing information.
When You Order, You Get:
PLUS, Full Digital Access
(You Won’t Be Charged Yet)
Full Digital Access:
PLUS:
(You Won’t Be Charged Yet)
What’s new? What happened this week? What aren’t you being told? All the news, stories and information that matters to the 750,000 locals in the area.
Want to know who’s getting the money from the “penny tax?” Want to see how the city’s being run? Want to know how your tax dollars are being used by the police and fire departments? We tell you.
How are local business owners handling things? What are they concerned about? As local owners expand and and big industry moves in, you’ll get updates and info.
Who’s coming to play at the Saenger? Where’s the hot new show on a Friday night? Get listings, show info, and interviews, published weekly and always available on the website.
Food and restaurants reviews are in every issue. Discover the latest hot spots, killer new dishes, and what new places are gaining attention.
There’s no longer any question about it.
For the next year – maybe longer – elections are going to matter to our area. They’ll be on the top of everyone’s mind. National elections matter for the country. But the local elections matter for you and your family.
At Lagniappe, we know our way around local politics. We dig into court records and public filings. We attend the meetings and interview our government leaders. We track down details and follow up on claims that are made.
How are local leaders spending your taxes? Are they doing backroom deals? Are they paying their brother-in-law behind your back to do “fake” work with your tax dollars?
If you think someone needs to keep an eye on government waste and false promises, then you’ll want to read Lagniappe. It’s the only local newspaper that gives you the facts you need to speak up for yourself – forcefully, truthfully, and with results.
Remember as a kid how jazzed you got about music and art? How you were buzzing with excitement around Mardi Gras?
Well, our arts and music and event editors still have that feeling. And they keep you up to date on every bit of news about the scene as they can fit into each issue, passing along the details so you’ll get excited about it too.
Truthfully, we all could support the arts and music scene a bit more. Our area is packed with talent from artists from all styles. And our music scene is thriving. Quite frankly, we’re lucky to have so many great cultural event and talent in the area. And it’s covered in the Lagniappe.
It’s the people, places, and pieces that thrill you. It’s the festivals like Hangout and Mardi Gras that set us apart from all other cities around the world. It’s the musicians and performers we tap our feet to. Lagniappe covers these things each week. From the minute you pick up a new issue, you can feel your artistic horizon expanding.
Are you an ‘old school’ reader who wants to hold a paper in your hands?
We understand. That’s why we offer a delivery option.
Each week you’ll be mailed a physical copy of Lagniappe to your home. It’s perfect. You can sit down with your coffee or lean back in your chair, and catch up with everything that happened the past week.
Digital access to Lagniappe’s new and coverage online is available for your entire family.
One subscription is allowed for up to 5 device, which means that your entire family can stay up to date across all the devices you use daily.
Q: Is Lagniappe a newspaper or a magazine?
A: Lagniappe is a newspaper, we just present things in a little different format designed to make it easier for the reader.
Q: How often does Lagniappe publish?
A: We publish the physical newspaper every Wednesday, but we also publish news stories daily on our website, www.lagniappemobile.com.
Q: Shouldn’t news be free? The TV news is free and the web is free.
A: While newspapers did a great job of retraining readers to expect not to have to pay for news, we all know that has been one of the big reasons so many newspapers are now out of business and so many communities now have no news source. As for TV, if you’re watching local TV news via cable or another service provider, you’re already paying $10 a month Local Broadcasting Fee that goes to the local stations. Yep, you’re paying for TV news. And other sites are now asking readers to voluntarily pay monthly. So, as with most trends, Lagniappe was just first to recognize it.
Q: What are the Nappie Awards?
A: They’re our local readers choice awards and one of the most popular things we do. More than 40,000 people registered over 1 million votes this year, a record that probably will be broken again next year.
Q: Can you just give me the links to join?
A: Yes! Here you go:
Buy Home Delivery: Click Here To Buy An Annual Subscription For Yourself
Buy Digital Only Access: Click Here To Buy An Annual Subscription For Yourself
Q: Is Lagniappe owned by an out-of-town company like almost all of the other media in our area?
A: Lagniappe is locally owned and operated. Ashley Trice and Rob Holbert started the paper with $5,000 and a dream 18 years ago and have always focused on covering things pertinent to the local area.
Q: Why should I pay for a subscription when the paper is free all over town?
A: There are several reasons subscribing to lagniappemobile.com is well worth 21 cents a day. First is that you don’t want to miss out on all the breaking news only Lagniappe is reporting on. There are many big stories that are only being covered by Lagniappe. Second is supporting local journalism. Subscribing is a tiny bit of money each week — less than a cup of coffee for an entire week of reporting and entertainment — but it means so much in terms of keeping reporters out there on the street asking the tough questions.
Q: How do you say Lagniappe?
A: Even after almost 20 years this is still a frequently asked question. Just forget about that G sound in there. Lan-yap. That’ll make you sound like a local!
Q: Is Lagniappe liberal or conservative?
A: Lagniappe is neither. We are a newspaper that strives to maintain the journalistic concept of objective reporting. We do run opinion articles, and we hope they represent a “marketplace of ideas” and not one particular dogma. We think it’s still important for newspapers to present different ideas to readers, not just echo what they already think or know.
Q: Can I get Lagniappe delivered to my home?
A: Yes! Simply subscribe for home delivery and get the paper mailed to you each week, AND also get digital access. It’s just $2 a week!
We’re the local newspaper that’s been here 18 years covering the stories nobody else even knows about, much less has the guts to cover. We offer news free of political spin and columns that are insightful, biting and fun. When you read Lagniappe, you’ll see there’s nothing like it anywhere else in Alabama.
From: Rob Holbert
704 Government St., Mobile, AL.
Dear Reader:
If you are still hesitant about subscribing to a newspaper right now – I understand the feeling.
These are very busy and very costly days we’re living in and it makes sense to think twice about anything that’s going to make new demands on your time and budget.
But before you decide I’d like to tell you why I co-publish Lagniappe – along with Ashley Trice – and what we hear from our readers almost every week.
Lagniappe is uniquely local. Each issue carries an accurate reporting of the news dedicated solely to the 450,000 people of Mobile and the 225,000 people in Baldwin County.
This includes new stories that matter to all, like stories about elections, city council, and the mayor, but also includes stories for West Mobile, Theodore, Bayou La Batre, Dauphin Island, Satsuma, and Saraland.
In Baldwin county, we’re there too. Daphne. Fairhope. Spanish Fort. Silverhill. Foley. Gulf Shores.
More important than this coverage, Lagniappe is written for people like you and me and Ashley who want to know what’s going on in town…. this involves our local government, but also the parts that make our area unique.
But that’s not all.
Lagniappe provides our readers and their families with the one thing that we can all agree on – we live in a very special area and keeping up with what’s going on is the best way to keep it that way.
Try reading it yourself. You’ll enjoy it.
All the best,
Rob Holbert,
Co-Publisher
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