New Melody newsletter offers fast weekday briefing

The Macon Melody will launch a new weekday email newsletter, The Riff, on Jan. 5, offering readers a smart, streamlined way to keep up with local news.

The Riff will arrive in inboxes every weekday at 6:30 a.m. and is designed for Macon residents who want to understand what’s happening locally — and why it matters — before the day gets moving.

Billed under the tagline “Macon News, No Static,” The Riff focuses on clarity, context and relevance, breaking down complex local issues into an accessible, skimmable format.

“This is about respecting readers’ time while still giving them real substance,” said Joshua Wilson, executive editor of The Macon Melody. “The Riff is for people who care deeply about Macon but don’t have the bandwidth to sort through endless headlines or social media feeds every morning.”

Each edition of The Riff follows a consistent structure built for quick reading and easy understanding. Every weekday issue leads with “Top Note,” a concise breakdown of one major Macon story, including key facts, essential background and a clear explanation of how it affects the community.

Alongside “Top Note,” readers will find one rotating section that changes daily throughout the week. These include:

— “Culture Beat,” spotlighting Macon’s arts and creative scene.

— “The Score,” a quick look at local sports.

— “The Bottom Line,” covering business news and development.

— “Good Vibrations, highlighting a warm, human moment from the community.

— “On Cue,” a brief civic heads-up pointing readers to an upcoming meeting, deadline or decision worth watching.

“The goal isn’t to overwhelm people — it’s to orient them,” Wilson said. “We want readers to feel more confident about what’s happening in their community and more prepared to engage with it.”

With a tone that is smart, conversational and locally fluent, The Riff reflects The Macon Melody’s broader commitment to public service journalism and community connection.

“We see this as a daily touchpoint between the newsroom and the community,” Wilson said. “If you read The Riff, you should feel informed, grounded and ready to start your day in Macon.”

To subscribe, visit maconmelody.com/newsletter.