With traditional media in decline and the coverage of positive news dwindling, American Community Journals has pioneered an innovative model for local news and branded content delivery.

ACJ’s approach is refreshingly straightforward: sharing community-focused stories that not only resonate with readers but also amplify the messaging of its affiliate partners. It’s a winning recipe trusted by businesses, nonprofits, and universities alike to fuel their marketing success.

Through its network of hyperlocal news platforms — VISTA, MONTCO, DELCO, BUCKSCO, and PHILADELPHIA Today — ACJ offers a vehicle for authentic brand storytelling, one that transcends traditional advertising to foster real, lasting engagement. ACJ’s affiliate partners recognize the power of personal connections and how building relationships boosts visibility in a crowded media landscape.

The Chester County Food Bank, the central hunger relief organization that annually distributes almost five million pounds of food throughout the county, immediately recognized the value in partnering with American Community Journals when it launched VISTA Today in 2014.

“Although we were a fast-growing organization since our founding in 2009, we were faced with the challenge of expanding our visibility beyond immediate stakeholders and donors,” said Anne Shuniak, the Chester County Food Bank’s Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications. “We wanted to amplify our mission and share the impact of our innovative programs that ensure access to nutritious and familiar food, which was often overshadowed by other regional news.”

In short, the food bank sought to establish itself as the authority on food security in Chester County.

“Becoming a flagship partner with VISTA Today provided us with the platform we needed to reach a broader audience and highlight the critical work we do,” said Shuniak.

With VISTA Today being a hyperlocal source of news delivered at no cost to business leaders, the food bank recognized ACJ’s strength in community-driven storytelling and its wide reach.

“We saw an opportunity to share our stories,” said Shuniak. “VISTA Today’s readership overlapped with the key stakeholders we wanted to engage, making it clear that a partnership would be essential for increasing our visibility and community presence.”

Shuniak said that the food bank’s partnership with ACJ has been instrumental in elevating its media profile.

“The exposure has opened doors for new partnerships,” she said. “Aligning a for-impact organization like the Chester County Food Bank with for-profit businesses has enhanced our standing within the business community. It has also helped communicate the essential business aspects of running a food bank — logistics, operations, resource management — that are critical to effectively addressing food insecurity at scale. This alignment has fostered mutual respect and collaboration between the nonprofit and business sectors.”

Shuniak has observed an uptick in traffic to the food bank’s website and social media channels when feature stories are published on VISTA Today.

“The exposure VISTA Today provides has been pivotal in driving our growth and deepening community engagement, particularly during critical times like the pandemic, when the need for our services surged,” she said. “It has also amplified our impact during key initiatives like Hunger Action Month and our holiday meal distribution programs, allowing us to rally even greater support and deliver essential services to those in need when it matters most.”

Learn more about how the Chester County Food Bank mobilizes and educates the community to ensure equitable access to nutritious and familiar food.

Don’t miss this opportunity — fill out the form below to discover how American Community Journals can spread your organization’s news across Delaware County and the Delaware Valley!

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