Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Redig.
Hi Dawn, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t start out with a grand plan to build a media company — I started with a love for people, stories, and this community. And I’ve always been a writer. Storytelling and journalism have been part of who I am for as long as I can remember.
Earlier in my career, I worked with The Dallas Morning News, where I had the opportunity to launch their first citizen-journalism community section covering Rockwall, Rowlett, Heath, and Royse City. That experience really shaped me — it showed me how powerful local storytelling can be, and how deeply people care about seeing their own communities reflected, respected, and celebrated.
Over time, I found myself constantly telling stories about local businesses, nonprofits, neighbors, and everyday moments that mattered — and I realized many of those postive stories weren’t being told anywhere. So I started Blue Ribbon News very organically, almost as a passion project, to highlight the people and moments that make Rockwall County special. And after all, there were many other news outlets covering all the negative.
What began as a small, scrappy, ‘let’s see if this works’ idea grew into a hyper-local publication that now reaches tens of thousands of households, businesses, and readers each month — in print, online, and on social media. But at its heart, it’s still the same thing: telling real, good stories about real, good people.
Today, I’m blessed to get to do work that feels meaningful — supporting local businesses, amplifying nonprofits, celebrating milestones, and helping build community through storytelling. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see how a story can connect people, inspire generosity, or simply make someone feel seen. I’m still doing what I started doing — just on a different platform, with deeper roots, and with even more gratitude for the community that made it possible.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most meaningful things, it hasn’t been a smooth road — but it’s been a very rewarding one.
People often see the finished product — the publication, the events we cover, the reach — and assume there’s a big newsroom or a large staff behind it. In reality, we’re a very small, family-run operation doing work that looks much bigger than we are. That’s been both one of our greatest strengths and one of our greatest challenges.
Because we’re independent and hyper-local, we don’t have corporate funding or outside investors. The paper is sustained almost entirely through the support of local advertisers and partners, and we work very hard to be responsible stewards of that trust. That means we’re constantly balancing creativity with sustainability — doing excellent work while being mindful of resources.
It’s also a true labor of love. Our days are long, our nights and weekends are often full because community life doesn’t happen neatly between nine and five. We’re at galas, fundraisers, school events, business openings, and milestones — because those moments matter, and we’ve committed to showing up for them.
There are moments of exhaustion, uncertainty, and financial stretch. But what carries us through is the belief in the mission, the support of our community, and the relationships we’ve built. The work is demanding — but it’s deeply meaningful. And every time someone tells us they felt seen, supported, or encouraged by a story, it reminds me exactly why we do it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Blue Ribbon News | BRN Media?
Blue Ribbon News is a hyper-local, independent media company with a print publication, a daily online platform, and a significant social media presence serving Rockwall County and surrounding areas. Through BRN Media, we also operate a full-service creative and marketing agency offering everything from social media management and website development to branding, marketing strategy, and public relations.
We specialize in telling positive, community-centered stories and helping local businesses and nonprofits connect meaningfully with their audiences.
What sets us apart is that we’re intentionally relationship-driven and community-rooted – #realgoodnews. We don’t chase controversy or clicks — we focus on connection, trust, and impact.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is that Blue Ribbon News has become a trusted platform — a place people feel safe sharing their stories, supporting one another, and celebrating what’s good. I want readers to know that when they engage with us — whether as a reader, a sponsor, or a client — they’re helping sustain something that exists solely to serve and strengthen this community.
How do you think about luck?
I do believe there’s been a measure of good fortune along the way — being in the right place at the right time, meeting the right people, having opportunities open when I didn’t expect them to. But I tend to see that less as luck and more as grace.
What I’ve learned is that doors may open unexpectedly, but you still have to walk through them prepared, willing to work, and willing to take responsibility for what’s been entrusted to you. I’ve also experienced seasons that didn’t feel lucky at all — times of uncertainty, risk, and stretch — but those moments shaped the business, strengthened my faith, and clarified my purpose.
So yes, there’s been good fortune. But it’s been paired with a lot of prayer, a lot of work, a lot of perseverance, and a lot of trust. I see what I do less as something I built on my own and more as something I’ve been allowed to steward — and I try to honor that in how I lead, serve, and show up for this community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blueribbonnews.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueribbonnews
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueRibbonNews/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-redig-7822b39/
Image Credits
Most photos are by BRN Media (mine) or friends with permission
