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Lawton, OK - Some would say that the newspaper is a “dying breed.” We live in the “digital age.” In today’s digital world where a consumer can get the latest and up-to-date news with the click of a computer mouse or on the go with their smart phones, the newspaper has seen some serious struggle, with many papers converting to an online-only format. Despite these facts, many papers have continued going strong, including local Lawton, ok newspaper The Lawton Constitution.

The Lawton Constitution has been serving as a top news source for the Lawton community and Southeast Oklahoma since 1910. Its history dates back to 1901, being the survivor of a fierce newspaper war that followed the birth of Lawton in 1901, and was then taken over by John Shepler in 1910. Despite being born into an age of typewriters and Linotype machines, progress and staying on the leading edge of technology have always been a benchmark of the for the newspaper. By 1955, the paper was filled with the most up-to-date machines and technology; a tradition that has been continued and has brought the paper to what it is today.

Part of what makes the newspaper great and has helped it continue to survive, is its rich and strong community ties and that it has been a family-owned publication since its inception in 1910. Initial owner and publisher John Shepler passed the paper on to his two sons. The tradition then continued through the years. The paper is now owned by another set of native Lawton brothers, Bill W. Burgess, Jr. and Brad W. Burgess. The sell to the Burgess brothers insured that the newspaper will remain locally owned, something important to the continued success and authenticity of any community paper.   “We think it is important that the voice of any community, the newspaper, remain locally owned,” Bill Burgess said. “All too often we’ve seen what happens when major corporations purchase the local newspaper. There is a tendency for the paper to lose a certain amount of local flavor. We just couldn’t let that happen to Southwest Oklahoma,” Burgess said.

Family-owned and run, rich and deep community ties, a continued commitment to progress and staying on the leading edge of technology, is what the Lawton Constitution is all about and what will continue to move the paper forward into the future of today’s digital world. The Lawton newspaper has both online and print subscription options available now for consumers. For more information on the Lawton Constitution, how to subscribe and up-to-date news, visit them at  http://www.swoknews.com/

102 Southwest 3rd Street
Lawton, OK 73501
(580) 353-0620

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