An interview with GJB Publisher Jack Criss

GJB: When and why did you start the Flowood Compass?

Scott: We’re now in our fifth year of service to the Flowood community. I started The Flowood Compass for several reasons – my wife and I moved to this area in 1981, and we saw Flowood grow up from a tiny town to a really vibrant community. The media had only paid passing attention to Flowood, and I saw an opportunity to help the city build it’s identity and promote itself. At the same time, we saw Flowood become the kind of place that we’d want to retire in someday, so we decided to make it our permanent home. That gave us more incentive to help the community grow and improve.

GJB: How many copies do you distribute throughout the Flowood area?

Scott: We average about 10,000 copies per issue, and distribute them for free through about 250 local locations. Going by national averages for free-press publications with our distribution methods, we estimate our readership to be around 200,000 annually, because each magazine is typically read by several people.

GJB: As a local publisher, what are the main things that you think make this community unique?

Scott: Flowood is successful because it’s leadership made a long-term plan for growth – and followed it. It’s no accident that we’re a focus for healthcare, retail and service businesses. Those industries were encouraged to get established here years ago as part of a long-term vision for growing the city’s infrastructure. That investment made it easier for Flowood to provide excellent police and fire protection for our residents, and superior schools for our kids.

GJB: What do you regard as the best part of your job?

Scott: Without doubt, it’s the number of wonderful people that I’ve gotten to know. Before The Compass, my career didn’t involve me with the public much, and our circle of friends was pretty small. I remarked to my wife recently that 90% of the people we know we’ve met since the magazine started. The Compass has really transformed our personal lives – we’re blessed with far more friends than we’d ever have known without it.