GTR Moves Forward with New Format

By Terrell Lester
Contributing Editor

There’s a change in the air.
Not so much from winter to spring. That’s inherent.
No, this spring will bring with it a change in the presentation of Greater Tulsa Reporter Newspapers.
The six banners under the GTR umbrella will be consolidated into one.
In making the announcement, D. Forrest Cameron, founder and publisher of GTR Newspapers, has announced the change for this issue.
For the past 28 years, GTR has published monthly issues focused on Greater Tulsa communities, stretching from Owasso to Bixby.
Beginning with this issue, GTR publishes one all-encompassing issue serving all six previously localized public school districts.
The Greater Tulsa Reporter newspapers have been a news staple. A focal point. A reservoir. A groundbreaker in local news.
Under each banner, local news is the priority.
The Union Boundary, Midtown Monitor, Jenks District Gazette, Broken Arrow Express, Owasso Rambler and Bixby Breeze all received the Cameron Touch.
News was assimilated and formulated to fit each readership base, putting GTR on the must-read lists of informed and inquisitive metropolitan Tulsans.
Twenty-eight years of headlines, deadlines and bylines. From that initial publication of the Union Boundary in February 1993.
GTR was there when Dave Rader was coaching the University of Tulsa football team. And when he made his debut in the Oklahoma Senate.
GTR was there at the dawning of G.T. Bynum’s political career, when he was elected to his first Tulsa City Council seat.
GTR was there when basketball coach Bill Self made the unprecedented move from Oral Roberts University to the University of Tulsa.
GTR covered the opening of TU’s Reynolds Center, the BOK Center, ONEOK Field. Helped shine the light on performers from Luciano Pavarotti to B.B. King, from Willie Nelson to Tony Bennett.
GTR complemented its coverage of the opening of the Oklahoma Aquarium and Tulsa Hills Shopping Center with color photos and illuminating words.
GTR published with appropriate civic pride the dedication of Tulsa’s Gathering Place.
Simply put, if events unfolded, if people were involved, if news developed, GTR has been there.
GTR is Tulsa’s gathering place for information.
From the blossoming of Broken Arrow’s Rose District to the evolution of Jenks’ Main Street, GTR has been a familiar face, a trusted voice.
GTR celebrated Broken Arrow’s first state championship in football. Celebrated Bixby’s golden run of current football success. Walked hand-in-hand with Jenks and Coach Allan Trimble and into a new era of football success with Keith Riggs. Followed the successful football journey of Coach Bill Blankenship from Union High School to the University of Tulsa to Owasso High School.
Cameron has carefully and strategically constructed a business plan that expanded to six newspapers with local emphasis, keeping a finger firmly on the pulse of the people.
Yet over time, the pulse of the people began to fluctuate.
Sure, they want to know, need to know, their home community. But they also want to know their Tulsa County neighbors.
With the realignment of GTR emphasis, the news from Owasso will be made available to the readers in Bixby and in Midtown Tulsa.
News of Broken Arrow’s Rooster Days, of Bixby’s Green Corn Festival, of Owasso’s Harvest Festival. All the celebrations, all the personalities, all the activities will be packaged into one publication for county-wide access.
GTR will continue with its cadre of blue-ribbon, contributing writers and dedicated, learned editors producing an all-encompassing journal on a monthly basis.
The people of Tulsa County have been rewarded for their GTR readership. The sports and entertainment, hometown news and human interest.
Education is at the epicenter of GTR newspapers. Readers are at the heart.
It all makes for a Greater Tulsa.
That will continue.
There will be no change in that mission.