BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (WLOX) - For the first time in more than half a century, the Sea Coast Echo is back under local ownership.

Longtime editor Geoff Belcher and his wife, Sandra, officially purchased the Hancock County newspaper on August 7, 2025. Belcher has worked at the Echo since 1999 and says the decision to buy the paper is deeply personal.

“It’s more personal. I care about what happens in this community. It’s important to me that this community succeeds,” Belcher said.

Belcher has seen the newspaper industry change dramatically over the years, shifting from cut-and-paste layouts to today’s digital-first landscape. While he acknowledges that print may eventually fade, he says community journalism will always have a place.

“There’s always going to be a need for community news

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