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To Recognize and Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Columbus Underground
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WHEREAS, Walker and Anne Evans launched Columbus Underground in 2001, as a publication dedicated to informing residents about topics shaping the city of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, over the past 25 years, Columbus Underground has grown into a widely trusted local media outlet, reaching more than two million unique annual visitors and over 500,000 subscribers across email and social media channels, while remaining locally owned and operated, supported by local advertisers, event sponsors, and event ticket sales; and
WHEREAS, as both journalism and the city of Columbus have evolved since the early 2000s, Columbus Underground has continually adapted its reporting and coverage to reflect the growth, challenges, and successes of the community it serves; and
WHEREAS, during its 25 years in operation, Columbus Underground has expanded from an entertainment-centric resource into a full service news publication that covers the arts, civic news, development updates, the restaurant scene, local politics and a whole lot more; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Underground has earned more than 50 journalism awards, many of which have come from the annual statewide competition hosted by the regional chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists, winning “Best General News Site in Ohio” in 2022, 2021, 2017, and 2016; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, Columbus Underground began hosting large scale events, transforming local news into shared experiences for readers and creating several of the city’s most celebrated events including the Columbus Coffee Festival and Urban Living Tour, while also establishing a new revenue stream for funding local journalism; and
WHEREAS, as 2026 begins, Columbus Underground will celebrate the milestone achievement of its first quarter century in business through a year of events, collaborations, articles, videos, merch releases and more. As Columbus Underground continues to spotlight many facets of the community that define Columbus, they invite people to engage in their year-long celebrations; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council recognizes and celebrates the 25th anniversary of Columbus Underground and encourages residents to participate in the anniversary festivities, honoring the Columbus Underground’s role as a dedicated storyteller of our city’s evolving history.