East End teens create Montauk's first and only weekly newspaper, featuring local news by local kids

The teens came up with the idea for it in the summer of 2023 when they noticed there was no weekly publication in the summer covering Montauk.

Jon Dowding

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Jun 5, 2025, 2:32 AM

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Updated yesterday

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A group of East End teens is running Montauk’s first and only weekly newspaper, featuring local news by local kids.

The teens came up with the idea for The Ditch Weekly in 2023 when they noticed there was no weekly publication in the summer covering Montauk.

The group gathered other peers to help write articles, sell ads and deliver the papers.

They put out their first issue in the summer 2024.

The Ditch Weekly head of sales Harry Karoussos says since then, readership has skyrocketed.

"We get 2,000 plus readers per week,” he said.

Staff start with an issue on Memorial Day, then put out one weekly from July 4 to Labor Day.

The Ditch Weekly editor-in-chief and publisher Billy Stern also made sure the paper gives back to the Montauk community.

"We give 10% of our profits to Walk on Water, which is a local nonprofit that helps children with special needs learn how to surf,” he said.

The Ditch Weekly distribution head Hudson Tanzmann says they’re all learning a lot along the way.

"I do like just learning about business and having to present myself,” he said. “I have to sell a pitch from my bike."

This year's first edition is already out, but good luck finding one of in Montauk.

They're already flying off the shelves at local businesses, like Adam Mar’s surf shop.

Mar bought one of their first ads and was their first interview for the first issue.

He continues to support the teens and even offers issues of the paper for his customers to pick up.

"Seeing young kids who are taking an initiative to start something that they're passionate about, I think that warrants support,” he said.

The Ditch Weekly lead writer Teddy Rattray says he hopes the paper can build a legacy of being part of Montauk.

"One day when you think of Montauk, you could probably think of The Ditch Weekly as like part of it,” he said.

The staff makes deliveries on their bikes every Thursday since they're not old enough to drive.

They say their parents do help them by driving around deliveries when they can, too.

Email the paper at billy@ditchweekly.com to find out how to become a subscriber and where to pick up a free copy.

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