Change is never easy, but sometimes it is necessary.

Nobody understands this concept better than newspaper publishers. As technology has presented more and more ways for readers to get their news, newspapers have been forced to adapt and change to make up for the decline in paid subscribers.

Leader Publications and our products are no exception. We have made changes, but we have worked hard to find creative solutions that do not sacrifice the quality of our products. In fact, with a more modern design, increased page count and more intentional and timely storytelling, these changes present opportunities for even better products.

By now, regular subscribers to the Niles Daily Star and Dowagiac Daily News have received a full week of editions on our new format. Cassopolis Vigilant and Edwardsburg Argus subscribers are receiving their first edition in this format today.

Effective this week, Leader Publications has redesigned its newspapers to a shorter page size but increased the page count. Subscribers to the Niles Daily Star and Dowagiac Daily News previously received their newspapers Monday through Friday, but now will receive them Tuesday through Saturday.

This change in cycle allows our news team to publish content in a timelier manner, publishing regular court and local government meetings on Saturday, rather than holding that news until Monday.

Subscribers to the Cassopolis Vigilant and Edwardsburg Argus previously received their news on Thursdays. Subscribers to the Vigilant will now receive their news in the center of the Saturday Dowagiac Daily News. Subscribers to the Argus will now receive their news in the center of the Saturday Niles Daily Star.

With this blend in products, Vigilant and Argus subscribers will now receive a larger newspaper which includes comics and crosswords and more obituaries, while still including the regular local government, business, court and community news they have always received. Subscribers to the Daily Star and Daily News will receive the same local content as always in their new Saturday editions, but will also receive news about neighboring towns and school districts in their center section.

While Niles, Dowagiac, Cassopolis, Edwardsburg and Buchanan each have their own identities, school districts, governments, business communities and populations, residents know how much these communities overlap.

Students residing in Niles may attend Edwardsburg schools. Homeowners in LaGrange Township may call Cassopolis home, though they have a Dowagiac address. Edwardsburg residents likely shop at the Niles Walmart and dine at Niles restaurants.

All four communities have at least a portion of residents who pay taxes to Cass County and its supporting public services. We shop, attend events, play sports, dine out and recreate in neighboring towns. There are people doing great work that is interesting to people no matter where they live, and we enjoy sharing their stories with the masses.

In our new publishing model, we will continue sharing hyperlocal stories with our readers each day (Niles Daily Star subscribers will still see Niles-specific stories each day, and Dowagiac Daily News subscribers will continue to get Dowagiac news every day). On Saturdays, these communities will receive additional stories about neighboring communities — meaning readers of all four publications will receive more content than before.

For more than a century, Leader Publications has been committed to informing our communities and marketing local businesses. The size of our paper and the distribution of our products may change, but our commitment to our readers remains steadfast.