This week marks the second full year that the Jackson Parish Journal (JPJ) has been in publication.

The JPJ came into being in April, 2020 after Publisher, Ben Ledbetter, who was a news and sports journalist for the now defunct Jackson Independent, desired to continue to provide residents of Jackson Parish current local news, information and sports through a digital platform. 

The dream became a reality when former Jonesboro resident, Doug Ireland, provided an introduction to Bill Vance, owner of Journal Services, LLC. Inc. who offered the opportunity to become a licensed publication.

The JPJ is one of ten Journal Services family members that cover all of Northwest Louisiana through the following publications: Winn Parish Journal, Natchitoches Parish Journal, Sabine Parish Journal, Red River Parish Journal, DeSoto Parish Journal, Shreveport/Bossier Parish Journal, Webster Parish Journal, Bienville Parish Journal and Lincoln Parish Journal.  

Since it’s inception the JPJ has grown from an initial, weekly publication that had seven viewers, to become the first newspaper in Jackson Parish to publish twice a week and have a viewing audience of over of 20,000 per month. 

This could not be done without the support from local businesses and organizations who help sponsor the JPJ through continual advertising. They include Jay Mallard Ford, Pardue Builders, Jackson Parish Library, Jackson Parish Recreation Department, Jackson Parish Bank, Jonesboro State Bank, Protective Insurance, Edmonds-Southern Funeral Home, Garrett Cattle Company, C&J Showgoats, Jackson Parish Recreation Department, Mitchell’s Pharmacy, Tag Rome – State Farm Insurance and Terry’s Flower Shop.

Thanks to these fine sponsors there is no cost to view the JPJ that can be viewed through media sites Google, Facebook and Twitter. You can also have each publication of the JPJ emailed directly to you by simply clicking on the JOIN icon, located at the top of each edition.