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VILLAGER ADVERTISING RATES

Advertising in the Villager is priced using a standard open rate of nineteen dollars per column inch (PCI) for display ads and eighteen dollars PCI for classifieds. This rate reflects the paper’s reach of readers across East Austin and the surrounding community, and it positions the Villager competitively among Austin’s established weekly newspapers. All display advertising is billed at the open rate unless a frequency agreement is in place. Color is available at an additional $100 per ad.

Advertisers who commit to multiple insertions may qualify for frequency discounts. A four issue commitment receives a ten percent reduction while a thirteen issue commitment receives a fifteen percent discount. Political advertising is billed at the open rate without discounts, in accordance with federal and state requirements.

Our PCI rate structure has been created to ensure clarity, fairness, and consistency for all advertisers while maintaining the value of the publication’s audience and the integrity of its pricing. It also provides small businesses and community partners with accessible entry points while preserving the paper’s ability to sustain high quality, community centered journalism.

VILLAGER DISTRIBUTION APPROACH

The Villager’s 6,100 printed issues reach readers each week across Austin, East Austin, Pflugerville, Round Rock, and the surrounding communities, with a distribution footprint that includes neighborhood businesses, community centers, cultural institutions, and high traffic public spaces. The audience is composed of long time residents, new inhabitants, emerging leaders, small business owners, educators, civic advocates, and families who rely on the paper for credible reporting and community centered storytelling. Readers are deeply engaged with local issues, responsive to advertising that reflects their values and needs, and committed to supporting businesses that invest in the neighborhoods they call home.

The Villager’s distribution strategy prioritizes accessibility and visibility, ensuring that each issue is placed where readers naturally gather and where community life is most active. This includes targeted placement in East Austin corridors like HEB grocery stores, legacy Black neighborhoods, and key civic and cultural hubs; including Austin Community College, The Carver Library, and the Millennium Theater. The result is a readership that is both geographically concentrated and highly attentive, offering advertisers a direct connection to one of Austin’s most influential and culturally significant communities.

Editorially, the Villager is grounded in a mission of justice centered reporting, accountability journalism, and community uplift. Coverage highlights the voices, experiences, and leadership of Black residents and other marginalized groups, while offering clear, factual reporting on policy, culture, education, business, and neighborhood change. The paper’s commitment to accuracy, integrity, and community service has earned it a trusted role in East Austin’s civic landscape, making it a reliable platform for advertisers seeking meaningful engagement with readers who value authenticity and local impact.

Page Count & Issue Sizing Policy

The Villager maintains a flexible issue sizing policy that aligns page count with confirmed advertising support. This approach ensures financial stability, protects the value of the publication’s rate structure, and guarantees that each issue is produced at a sustainable level without compromising circulation or editorial integrity. Page count is determined by the total volume of paid advertising secured for each issue, with the goal of matching print capacity to community demand while preserving consistent quality for readers and advertisers.

The standard weekly edition is published in either a four-page, six-page or eight-page format. Issues supported by less than two thousand dollars in confirmed advertising are produced as a four-page edition. This format allows the publication to maintain full circulation while controlling production costs during weeks of lighter advertiser participation. When advertising support reaches or exceeds three thousand dollars, the publication expands to a six-page edition. When advertising support reaches or exceeds four thousand dollars, the publication expands to an eight-page edition. These larger formats provide additional space for display advertising, community announcements, and expanded editorial coverage, and is used during weeks of heightened advertiser demand or special community interest.

This tiered structure ensures that advertisers receive the same circulation and community reach regardless of page count, while the Villager maintains responsible stewardship of its resources. The policy also preserves the ability to scale up during high demand periods, including seasonal peaks, special issues, and the fourth quarter, when advertising activity traditionally increases. By aligning page count with confirmed revenue, the publication avoids unnecessary production costs, protects long term rate stability, and ensures that every issue is fully supported by the community it serves.

Advertisers may reserve space in either format and the Villager will communicate anticipated page counts in advance whenever possible, though final determinations are made based on confirmed advertising at the close of the weekly deadline. This policy reflects the Villager’s commitment to transparency, sustainability, and consistent service to both readers and advertisers.

Publisher’s Note on Page Count

As a community newspaper, we size each issue responsibly based on the advertising support we receive that week. This helps us keep our circulation strong, protect our print quality, and ensure that every edition is fully funded without raising rates unnecessarily. When ad volume is lighter, we publish a four-page issue to manage costs while still delivering the essential news our readers rely on. When advertiser demand increases, we expand to six or eight pages to provide more space for community coverage and display advertising. This flexible approach allows us to serve our readers consistently, support local businesses at accessible prices, and maintain the long-term sustainability of the publication.

Column Rates

THE VILLAGER is the home of “Flat Rate Column Inch Pricing!” We offer the low standard rate of $19.00 per column inch for display ads and $18 per column inch for classified ads. We believe in fair, honest no-nonsense pricing.

We offer 10% discounts for ad campaigns lasting at least 4 weeks. Ads do not have to run consecutively to receive our discount; however, a campaign for 4 weeks or more is required and must be agreed upon by both THE VILLAGER and the client. Campaigns lasting 13 weeks or more will receive a 15% discount without consecutive runs needed. Same run rules apply as the 4 or more-week campaigns.

*Prices affective May 11, 2026.

$19.00 (Flat Rate) per column inch
$17.10* per column inch
(*10% off with at least a 4-week contract)
$16.15** per column inch
(**15% off with at least a 13-week contract)
Color $100.00 (Flat Rate)

To view our sample rate sheet, click here.

To view banner ad sizes, click here.

For our media kit click here.