Welcome to our new website! Please note that for a brief period we will be offering complimentary access to the full site. No login is currently required to read stories or e-editions.
By April 1, the Kern Valley Sun’s office will be moved back to the same building, where the previous owners of the Kern Valley Sun had its office located 6416 Lake Isabella Boulevard. “Being back in this building means a lot to me personally because I believe it’s the footprint that the Kern Valley Sun used to have," said co-owner of the Kern Valley Sun, Fred Clark.
The Man of the Year, and former president of the chamber, Clark thought this new space, in the same building as the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce and his own insurance agency's office, was more conducive to a business atmosphere. He also believes it has a more positive environment, and with access to the historical books on public display, for public review.
Clark said his personal opinion was the former owner, Pipeline Media, tried to apply what they felt was a good concept to the newspaper and website. However Clark felt the concept didn't apply to the Kern Valley because the public felt the Kern Valley Sun wasn't a local paper anymore.
"We've spent the last twelve months fighting hard to change that perception. We wanted to reintroduce and remind everybody we are a local paper. That's why myself, John Watkins and Lynda Kissack took the paper back over. It's now on our shoulders to show our valley who we are, why we do what we do, and that we are a 100% local paper. And that's critical," Clark said.
Clark said that the Kern Valley Sun had its home in the building since back around 2012 or 2013 when the Smiths bought the building to house the Kern Valley Sun. However the owner that bought the Kern Valley Sun from the Smiths, Pipeline Media, moved the Kern Valley Sun to another location on Lake Isabella Boulevard.
Clark said that the Kern Valley Sun wants to have a nice positive foot print, in the spotlight of the community. He prepared the new office to be comfortable for the employees and especially positive, warm, and welcoming to visitors coming in.
Clark explained that he and the other co-owners have been talking about moving to this office building since around December, or January, exactly a year after purchasing the paper from Pipeline Media.
"The people that work for us are the backbone of the paper. Without them we don't have a paper. But at the same token, if we don't give the readers or subscribers something to engage themselves, they don't have a reason to be part of our team either. We're all in this for the same goal," he said.
Clark explained that this move would be a step toward reminding the community who the Kern Valley Sun is - a local paper.
“The local people here in the valley, they're the ones that own this paper. They're the ones who are going to decide whether this paper survives or goes away because if we don't give them something that's viable content, that they want to see every week, they don't
need us."
Clark said the paper has many businesses up here, which have been supportive, and that the Kern Valley Sun wants to support those businesses. "Between our print publication, our online publication, or social media, the Kern Valley Sun is growing the paper and is giving value to our paper for advertisers."
Clark said the Kern Valley Sun would still be operating at the former location for the next couple weeks and slowly transitioning, to new office. “Come April 1st we'll be at the new address. Same phone number and email addresses.”
Clark gave our Kern Valley Sun news reporter a tour of the old suite, where the Kern Valley Sun used to reside, in the same building where the news outlet is now moving.
