History of the Oro Valley Voice
1970s – Founding and Early Years
Late 1970s: As Oro Valley grew, the paper rebranded itself “The Newspaper of Northern Pima County,” extending coverage to nearby communities like Catalina. By 1977 it was a weekly Wednesday publication. Under editor Ted Turpin, it carried the dual title “Oro Valley Voice/The Catalina Call,” and in 1979 one of its editorials was entered into the U.S. Congressional Record—an unusual national nod for a small-town paper.
1980s – Expansion, Rebranding, and Hiatus
1980–1984: The Voice continued as “Oro Valley Voice / The Catalina Call,” reporting on early commercial developments. The name was shortened to “Oro Valley Voice/Call,” and by 1984 reverted simply to The Oro Valley Voice.
Mid- to Late 1980s: Publication faced headwinds and by 1984 had ceased its original run. In its absence, the Oro Valley Territorial newspaper (1986–1990) and other regional outlets filled the local news gap during Oro Valley’s first major growth spurt.
1990s – Dormancy and Regional Coverage
The Voice name was largely dormant as Oro Valley exploded to nearly 30,000 residents by 2000. Local reporting was handled by regional papers like the Northwest Explorer and municipal newsletters. Although the town’s need for dedicated media grew, the Voice itself did not operate during this decade.
2000s – The Digital Age and Community Media
Early 2000s: Oro Valley residents relied on regional dailies and official town newsletters. The concept of reviving the Voice percolated amid growing community interest.
Mid-2000s: Susan Penney, a former local-media sales executive, began laying the groundwork—drawing up business plans and gauging advertiser support—for a modern, community-focused Oro Valley publication.
2010 – Revival as a Community Publication
2010: The Voice is relaunched by Gregory Lopeman and Susan Penney as a free, monthly print newspaper mailed to every home and business, reaching 67,500 readers. Content emphasized positive local news, resident and business profiles, town history, events calendars, and opinion pieces.
Partnerships flourished: the Town of Oro Valley contributed a regular “Town Talk” column, nonprofits and civic groups used the Voice for outreach, and local writers provided stories. A companion website was launched, offering digital versions of issues and past articles. By decade’s end, it was firmly reestablished as a hyper-local staple supported by community advertising.
2015 – Contract Fallout and Leadership Change
2015: Contract negotiations fell through, and Gregory Lopeman stepped aside from the Voice.
2015–2022: Theresa Poalucci served as editor of the Oro Valley Voice, guiding the newspaper’s editorial strategy, commissioning feature articles, and overseeing the transition toward digital formats until print slowed in 2022.
2020s – Digital Transition and Multimedia Expansion
Early 2020s: The COVID-19 pandemic strained print revenue, leading to the end of the independent print edition. In 2022, publisher Susan Penney stepped away, and the Voice transitioned to a solely digital presence under the OroValleyVoice.com domain.
2022–2023: The Oro Valley Voice operated entirely online—through its website, email newsletters, and social media—with a mix of local journalism and sponsored content, but slowed to a halt.
