Freshwater Reporter offers an audience and a market that’s a bit different from others you may have tried. Ready to advertise and be noticed? See our rates and publication schedule and our advertising agreement (below).
Our locally owned paper is available for FREE to local residents and visitors. Readers never pay to look at content, either on the newsstand or online.
Why advertise with us?
We’re all about our communities. We strive to make our stories interesting, diverse, relevant and FUN for residents and visitors, with a little something for every reader — stories about people, places, arts, attractions, astronomy/space, history, music, cooking, the environment/natural resources, outdoor sports, etc. We offer poetry, short-short stories and a comprehensive calendar of area events. People contact us about our calendar of events, looking for things to do on their vacations and weekend getaways. We always focus on our local communities in Manistee, Mason, western Wexford and western Lake counties … and occasionally beyond. We deliver to to cities, villages, rural communities and selected resorts and campgrounds (in season).
When you advertise with us, your print ad receives online exposure for FREE during the month(s) it appears in our paper.
Readers see your free online CLICKABLE ad rotating across our web pages, *and* your ad appears indefinitely in our digital full issues, available to view or download. We can link your ad to your website or Facebook page — your choice. As a Freshwater Reporter advertising partner, you also receive a periodic shout-out on our social media.
Do you have new hours, products or services to announce? Have a special event or promotion to announce? We’ll help you share your news!
Our ad designer, Amy, works with you to hone your advertising message. She encourages our advertisers to refresh their messages, so their ads continue getting noticed in print and online.
Amy is a genius!”
J.S., Freshwater Reporter advertiser
Your ad is given the respect it deserves.
We leave fresh copies of the current issue with our advertisers and other businesses. Your ad is delivered in newspapers that are unbound, unboxed and ready to read. Our Freshwater Reporter newsstands include copies of the current issue and the previous issue, increasing ad exposure.
Recycling is an important part of our paper’s service model. At the end of the news cycle, we remove old issues. Once they’ve surpassed their freshness, the papers are gathered for recycling. If you have past issues of Freshwater Reporter still in your place of business after the current issue’s end date, please contact us.
Advertise in Freshwater Reporter. View our 2025 Advertising Information and Advertising Agreement.
I immediately started getting referrals from my ad placement on Freshwater Reporter! Love seeing local hits for my business.”
–Marie Marfia, Marie Marfia Fine Art