J.C. Derrick

1 month ago | mainstreetdailynews.com | J.C. Derrick

Gratitude. There’s no better word to describe the sentiment expressed all around during our May 14 event marking the five-year anniversary of Mainstreet Daily News. What a five years it has been. We published our first story the week before the country shut down from COVID-19, dramatically altering our plans to help fill gaps in local news coverage. Since 2020, those gaps proliferated as we have seen closures and cutbacks at outlets across North Central Florida.

2 months ago | mainstreetdailynews.com | J.C. Derrick

Last year on Good Friday, Alachua County announced it would begin posting public notices to its website. This meant that notices of public hearings, invitations to bid on government business, and more would appear there. On its face, this move would have increased transparency, but, unfortunately, it was accompanied by three steps backward.

Feb 25, 2025 | theapopkachief.com | J.C. Derrick

By J.C. Derrick PublisherOn a spring day in 2022, John Ricketson and I spent several hours together and developed an immediate rapport. We swapped journalism war stories and talked about the past, present and future of The Apopka Chief, where he had devoted more than four decades of his storied career. John had seen a lot of highs in the business, from breaking major stories to winning statewide awards and serving as the chair of the Florida Press Association board of directors.

Feb 3, 2025 | mainstreetdailynews.com | J.C. Derrick

It’s not uncommon to walk into an established business around Gainesville and see a framed feature story that a local newspaper or magazine published decades ago.  This is part of the magic of print. It captures a story in a way that can’t be replicated with the fast-paced environment of the internet.  Have you ever printed an online news story and framed it? Neither have I.

Jan 20, 2025 | mainstreetdailynews.com | J.C. Derrick

Former President Donald Trump was sworn in Monday for his second term in office on a frigid day in Washington, capping off a political comeback unprecedented in American history.  “The golden age of America begins right now,” Trump said in his inaugural address.