Breeze Publications
Encyclopedia
Breeze Publications is a privately owned publisher based in Cumberland, Rhode Island
, serving northern and western Providence County
with five free tabloid-format weekly newspaper
s.
Founded in 1996 by Thomas V. Ward & James Quinn, Breeze Publications began—at first, produced in Ward's living room—with its flagship title, The Valley Breeze, which later split to two editions. In 2006, the company acquired two other weeklies in neighboring towns. In 2009, they also started a new paper which covers Pawtucket. The papers now employ 19 full-time and eight part-time employees.
The North Providence Breeze :Originally called the North Star when it was founded in 1997, Breeze acquired the free weekly covering North Providence
in 2006 and rebranded it. It does not have a Website of its own, but North Providence news is posted on The Valley Breeze & Observer site.
The Valley Breeze, Cumberland-Lincoln Edition :Ward's & Quinn's first Breeze newspaper, The Valley Breeze has covered Cumberland and Lincoln, Rhode Island
, since 1996. It runs 17,000 copies per week.
The Valley Breeze, North Smithfield-Blackstone-Woonsocket Edition :The success of The Valley Breeze led to the establishment of a second edition in 1999, covering North Smithfield
and Woonsocket, Rhode Island
. In 2001, the newspaper began covering Blackstone, Massachusetts
.
The Valley Breeze & Observer :Called The Observer when Breeze bought it in 2006, The Valley Breeze & Observer was converted from paid to free delivery. It covers Foster
, Glocester
, Scituate
and Smithfield, Rhode Island
, in western Providence County. The Observer was founded in 1955.
The Valley Breeze, Pawtucket Edition :Ward's & Quinn's fifth Breeze newspaper, The Valley Breeze has covered Pawtucket, Rhode Island]], since 2009. It runs 8,000 copies per week.
, the only statewide daily newspaper, and with the RISN Operations
dailies The Call
and The Times
, in Woonsocket and nearby Pawtucket, respectively. In Blackstone, The Valley Breeze competes with the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester, Massachusetts
, and with The Milford Daily News
of Milford, Massachusetts
.
All four Breeze newspapers are members of Rhode Island Newspaper Group, an advertising sales consortium that consists of five weekly newspaper publishers in suburban Providence. Other member publishers are Beacon Communications, East Bay Newspapers
, Hathaway Publishing
and Southern Rhode Island Newspapers
.
Cumberland, Rhode Island
Cumberland is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, incorporated in 1746. The population was 33,506 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, serving northern and western Providence County
Providence County, Rhode Island
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 621,602 people, 239,936 households, and 152,839 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,504 people per square mile . There were 253,214 housing units at an average density of 613 per square mile...
with five free tabloid-format weekly newspaper
Weekly newspaper
A weekly newspaper is a general-news publication that is published on newsprint once or twice a week.Such newspapers tend to have smaller circulations than daily newspapers, and are usually based in less-populous communities or small, defined areas within large cities; often, they may cover a...
s.
Founded in 1996 by Thomas V. Ward & James Quinn, Breeze Publications began—at first, produced in Ward's living room—with its flagship title, The Valley Breeze, which later split to two editions. In 2006, the company acquired two other weeklies in neighboring towns. In 2009, they also started a new paper which covers Pawtucket. The papers now employ 19 full-time and eight part-time employees.
Properties
Each of the Breeze newspapers is printed on tabloid-sized pages and distributed free in the towns it covers, every Thursday, except for The North Providence Breeze and The Valley Breeze Pawtucket edition which are published on Wednesdays.The North Providence Breeze :Originally called the North Star when it was founded in 1997, Breeze acquired the free weekly covering North Providence
North Providence, Rhode Island
North Providence is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 32,078 at the 2010 census.The town has the distinction of being the smallest by area in the smallest state . Though at only , the city of Central Falls is Rhode Island's smallest municipality...
in 2006 and rebranded it. It does not have a Website of its own, but North Providence news is posted on The Valley Breeze & Observer site.
The Valley Breeze, Cumberland-Lincoln Edition :Ward's & Quinn's first Breeze newspaper, The Valley Breeze has covered Cumberland and Lincoln, Rhode Island
Lincoln, Rhode Island
Lincoln is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 21,105 at the 2010 census. Lincoln is located in northeastern Rhode Island, north of Providence....
, since 1996. It runs 17,000 copies per week.
The Valley Breeze, North Smithfield-Blackstone-Woonsocket Edition :The success of The Valley Breeze led to the establishment of a second edition in 1999, covering North Smithfield
North Smithfield, Rhode Island
North Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, settled as a farming community in 1666 and incorporated into its present form in 1871. North Smithfield includes the historic villages of Forestdale, Primrose, Waterford, Branch Village, Union Village, Park Square, and...
and Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border....
. In 2001, the newspaper began covering Blackstone, Massachusetts
Blackstone, Massachusetts
Blackstone is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,026 at the 2010 census. It is formally a part of the Providence metropolitan area. Blackstone is the only municipality in Massachusetts to employ automatic cameras in traffic enforcement.- History :This...
.
The Valley Breeze & Observer :Called The Observer when Breeze bought it in 2006, The Valley Breeze & Observer was converted from paid to free delivery. It covers Foster
Foster, Rhode Island
Foster is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, in the United States. The population was 4,606 at the 2010 census.- History :Foster was originally settled in the 17th century by British colonists as a farming community...
, Glocester
Glocester, Rhode Island
Glocester is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 9,746 as of the 2010 census. The villages of Chepachet and Harmony are in Glocester. Putnam Pike Glocester is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 9,746 as of the 2010...
, Scituate
Scituate, Rhode Island
Scituate is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 10,329 at the 2010 census.-History:Scituate was first settled in 1710 by emigrants from Scituate, Massachusetts...
and Smithfield, Rhode Island
Smithfield, Rhode Island
Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It includes the historic villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, Mountaindale, Hanton City, Stillwater and Greenville...
, in western Providence County. The Observer was founded in 1955.
The Valley Breeze, Pawtucket Edition :Ward's & Quinn's fifth Breeze newspaper, The Valley Breeze has covered Pawtucket, Rhode Island]], since 2009. It runs 8,000 copies per week.
Sisters and competitors
Breeze papers compete with The Providence JournalThe Providence Journal
The Providence Journal, nicknamed the ProJo, is a daily newspaper serving the metropolitan area of Providence, Rhode Island and is the largest newspaper in Rhode Island. The newspaper, first published in 1829 and the oldest continuously-published daily newspaper in the United States, was purchased...
, the only statewide daily newspaper, and with the RISN Operations
RISN Operations
RISN Operations Inc., also called Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers, is a privately owned publisher of four daily newspapers and several weekly newspapers in the U.S. state of Rhode Island...
dailies The Call
The Call (Woonsocket)
The Call is a seven-day daily newspaper based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, U.S., covering northern Providence County, Rhode Island, and some adjacent towns in Massachusetts....
and The Times
The Times (Pawtucket)
The Times is a six-day daily newspaper based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA, covering eastern Providence County, Rhode Island, and some adjacent towns in Massachusetts. It is owned by RISN Operations Inc.-History:...
, in Woonsocket and nearby Pawtucket, respectively. In Blackstone, The Valley Breeze competes with the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, and with The Milford Daily News
The Milford Daily News
The Milford Daily News is a daily newspaper covering Milford, Massachusetts, USA, and several nearby towns in Norfolk and Worcester counties.The newspaper is managed and printed by The MetroWest Daily News...
of Milford, Massachusetts
Milford, Massachusetts
Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It had a population of 27,999 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Milford, constituting the center of the town, please see the article Milford ,...
.
All four Breeze newspapers are members of Rhode Island Newspaper Group, an advertising sales consortium that consists of five weekly newspaper publishers in suburban Providence. Other member publishers are Beacon Communications, East Bay Newspapers
East Bay Newspapers
East Bay Newspapers, also called Phoenix-Times Publishing Company, is a publisher based in Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, and owner of seven weekly newspapers in eastern Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.- History :...
, Hathaway Publishing
Hathaway Publishing
Hathaway Publishing is a subsidiary of Ottaway Community Newspapers, itself a division of News Corporation. Hathaway publishes five weekly newspapers in the South Coast region of Massachusetts.- History :...
and Southern Rhode Island Newspapers
RISN Operations
RISN Operations Inc., also called Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers, is a privately owned publisher of four daily newspapers and several weekly newspapers in the U.S. state of Rhode Island...
.