Tierra Media Group, parent company to Oklahoma Gazette and OKCBiz magazine, announced Nov. 24 that it will launch a new weekly publication, EastWord, for Eastern Oklahoma County March 1, 2010.

Positioned as a hyper-local community newspaper, EastWord will publish each Wednesday and will be distributed free to the public on racks throughout the Midwest City, Del City, Choctaw and Nicoma Park areas. Its Web site, eastword.net, will launch Feb. 1.

“Readers can expect high-quality local news in a great-looking format that will be convenient to pick up and interesting to read,” Publisher Bill Bleakley said. “We hope to make EastWord the very best source for local information.”

EastWord will provide news and features about the communities in which it is distributed, reporting on local schools, arts and entertainment, restaurants, civic and religious activities, and economic development issues, along with military, aerospace, medical and real estate industry coverage.

Tierra Media Group’s former online editor, Stefanie Brickman, has been tabbed as editor of EastWord and will be responsible for all of its print and online content.

"Publishing a weekly newspaper for Eastern Oklahoma County really excites me," Brickman said. "I look forward to our publication focusing on people in our market area and telling their stories. EastWord will be for the community and about the community."

The EastWord team will include staff members who have grown up and raised families in Eastern Oklahoma County.

 “Our citizens are more engaged and active in the community when they have news and information on issues and events relevant to them,” Bleakley said.