How we create and consume media is ever changing in today’s world. This is true at all levels, and even the local sources we know and love are not immune.

Think about our two local newspapers in Ithaca and Cortland. Both products are over 150 years old. They did an excellent job of educating, informing, and entertaining readers for over a century. But especially over the last 20 years, the print landscape and their business model has changed dramatically.

The dictionary defines a community as “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common”. The characteristic we share is the same sense of familiarity. We travel the same roads, we shop the same stores, we hike the same trails, we watch the same sports teams…you get the point.

When connecting community was done via a newspaper, a local TV station, and a radio station…it was actually easier. Time and technology have changed that and today, it’s more difficult. While it’s a good thing that fragmentation now allows us to connect across the globe, the downside is that we are less aware of what is happening in our own backyards, which is why we want to help bring our community together.

Why us? It’s a great question. I guess the best answer is, “if not us, who?”. We already have a great radio station – WHCU (whose call letters stand for “Home of Cornell University”) that does a fantastic job of reporting news. This includes a dedicated news director in Joe Salzone and two outstanding reporters in Matt Aceto and Mat Adams. For people driving to and from work, and every 30 minutes throughout the workday, they are bringing local and regional news to our airwaves. We also share that news daily with our other radio stations to share with their respective audiences. Our radio stations entertain with music and personalities, do promotions in the community, support local charities…we know this area pretty well.

In order to connect our community more effectively, we are expanding on how we bring news, information, and entertainment to people.

Thus, the launch of CortacaToday.

A site that is available for all online and soon through an app directly to your mobile device. It’s free and it’s local, focusing on Tompkins and Cortland Counties.

We have found a great local leader in Maddie Cavataio, who will work closely with our news team on WHCU and our team to help educate, inform, entertain, and connect the community.

All of us at Cayuga Media are excited for this opportunity. I am sure we will have to work out some kinks along the way, but it will be an honest effort by a team of dedicated people that live in, work in, and love this area.

It’s your community too. So please, share your news, information, and ideas with us. Together, we can create something great, for the community and by the community.

Chet Osadchey, President

Cayuga Media Group