Anderson-Ellis, a recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s creative-writing program, says the goal of the paper is to not only cover local news, but to offer solutions to the community’s ills, she says. Stories will include detailed information about how to get involved and who to call to help.

“We’re positioning to help make Richmond a better place,” she explains. “Otherwise it’s news for news’ sake, without providing the tools.”

City Edition is the brainchild of Robert and Laurie Kent, owners of The Community Weekly, a classifieds-driven weekly paper that distributes to 185,000 homes via mail in metro Richmond. After living in Chesterfield County for 13 years, the Kents moved to Richmond three years ago. That’s when they decided the city’s media coverage was lacking something.

“It seemed like something was missing from a media standpoint,” Robert Kent says. “We wanted in some small way to have a positive impact.”

The new paper will share some resources of the 15-year-old Community Weekly, particularly its experienced sales staff, Anderson-Ellis says.

As for the editorial staff, there are four editors, six contributing writers, four interns and a contributing photographer, she says. Anderson-Ellis, who received her master’s degree in nonfiction writing, is a former teacher and freelance writer who’s written for Style, Friends of the Earth magazine in Washington, D.C., and REAL Girls, an alternative magazine for teenage girls in Sherman, Calif. — Scott Bass

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