Southside Media
Southside Media was created in 1977 to publish a brand new newspaper in Hartford, Southside Neighborhood News. Since then, Southside has gone on to become one of the region’s most prolific publishing companies, producing everything from banquet programs to full-length books.

Southside Media was purchased in 1989 by the husband-and-wife team of Jon Harden and Lynne Lumsden, both veterans of the publishing industry in New York City. Their arrival coincided with the computer revolution that was then sweeping through the publishing world. As paste-up by hand gave way to desktop publishing and cameras went digital, Southside kept up with the trends and now has a streamlined production department that can quickly turn out a wide variety of printed pieces.


Hartford Publications
Mike McGarry has been involved with Southside in various ways since the company was formed 32 years ago. In 1996, this relationship was formalized when McGarry Marketing and Southside Media formed a new partnership known as Hartford Publications. This new entity’s first project was Greater Hartford Magazine. This glossy, four-color magazine was published from 1996 through 2006, when rising production costs and a shifting market dictated a new approach. Experienced gained on the magazine has enabled Hartford Publication to produce a string of successful publications for various towns, such as the New Britain Chamber of Commerce Directory and City Guide and the Cromwell Business Guide. Through McGarry’s extensive ties to the Greater Hartford arts scene, Hartford Publications is also the publisher of programs for some of the region’s biggest events, such as the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz and the Greater Hartford Irish Music Festival. In 2008, the company began publication of the Hartford Downtowner, a high-quality, tabloid-style monthly newspaper. The Downtowner has proven to be so successful that a similar paper is published on special occasions for the West Hartford Center area.


The Hartford News
The Hartford News began in 1977 as the Southside Neighborhood News. The paper, which covered all of Hartford south of Capitol Avenue, was founded by a group of community activists who felt that the people of Hartford’s neighborhoods needed a voice of their own, independent from the established press. “Southside,” as it soon came to be known, was a hit from its very first edition. Due to its success, “Southside” went city-wide and became The Hartford News In 1987. Since then, The Hartford News has become a valuable bridge between the city’s many ethnic and socio-economic groups. Now, after 32 years, The Hartford News is still Hartford’s only city-wide community newspaper and one of the largest weekly newspaper in the state. In recognition of the vital role it has played in recording life in the Capitol City, its photo archive have been donated to the Hartford Public Library’s Hartford History Center.


The Journal, Covering Bloomfield & Windsor
When the Bloomfield Journal ceased publication in the early part of 2009, town leaders turned to Southside Media to fill the gap. Within a matter of weeks, The Journal, Covering Bloomfield & Windsor was available at spots throughout both towns and is now published on a bi-weekly basis. Southside was fortunate to acquire the services of several members of the Journal’s staff, including editor Kelly Bates, reporters Brian Woodman and Fred Hesketh and sports writer Woody Dixon.


Welcome to Avon, Canton, Farmington, East Granby, Granby & Simsbury
Southside recently celebrated the 16th anniversary edition of this handy, digest-sized guide to the six towns of the Farmington Valley. Avon native Carl Candels, “The Public Relations Man,” serves as account executive, writer and photographer of the booklet, which features the history and attractions of the Farmington Valley along with a wide selection of business profiles.


Our Neighborhoods West
In 2002, Southside Media acquired Nutshell Press, publisher of a Our Neighborhoods West, a guide to Hartford’s Asylum Hill and West End neighborhoods. Nutshell Press owner Lee Whittemore agreed to continue working as account executive and publisher of this annual guide, which is now in its 14th edition.


West Hartford Senior Bulletin
In 2005, the Town of West Hartford Elderly Services Division asked Southside Media if it would take over the production and printing of its bi-monthly bulletin. Packed with page after page of events and activities, the publication is mailed out to all West Hartford seniors and is also dropped off at several key locations in West Hartford and surrounding towns.