If you’ve visited our newspaper website recently, you may have noticed something frustrating—the speed isn’t quite where we want it to be. Trust me, we feel it too. But I want to take a moment to explain what’s going on behind the scenes, reflect on where we’ve been, and share how we’re tackling this issue head-on.
Earlier this year, we fought a tough battle to improve the site’s performance. Our servers were being hammered by nefarious bot traffic, slowing everything to a crawl. We knew we had to take swift action, so we implemented several changes, including adding a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter non-USA traffic and bots. We restricted traffic to within the U.S. to protect the integrity of our sites and keep things running smoothly for our readers. Those measures gave us a much-needed breather.
Fast forward to today, and while we’re seeing some similar speed issues, I’m happy to say they’re coming from a very different place: growth. Our website’s popularity has surged in recent months, and while it’s a fantastic sign of success, it’s also creating some growing pains.
We’re working diligently with third-party experts to come up with the best solution to handle the increased traffic—not just for today but for the future as well. This isn’t a quick fix; it’s about making sure we’re positioning ourselves for continued growth without sacrificing performance.
In the coming weeks, we’ll most likely relocate all of our sites to a more capable server. This move is expected to significantly improve the site’s speed and handle the growing volume of traffic. However, we’re committed to doing our due diligence, carefully weighing all options before making a final decision. The goal is to not only solve the issue but also ensure we’re prepared for even more growth down the line.
I want to take a moment to thank you, our readers, for your continued patience and support. I know it can be frustrating when things aren’t loading as quickly as we’d like. But in the grand scheme of things, this is what we call a “good problem to have.” It’s a reflection of the growing number of people who are turning to our site for news, updates, and more.
Rest assured, we’re on it. And we’re looking forward to a smoother, faster experience for everyone very soon. In the meantime, we appreciate your understanding and loyalty as we work through these growing pains.
Thank you for sticking with us—we’ll be better for it in the end.
David A. Specht Jr.
President & CEO, Specht Newspapers, Inc.