VA Peninsula Media is the only locally-owned media outlet dedicated to Peninsula life.
Covering Hampton, Poquoson, Newport News and York County, the target audience is anyone who enjoys Virginia Peninsula fun.
Virginia Peninsula Media consists of three components.
Virginia Peninsula Magazine – A free bi-monthly print publication distributed at more than 65 (and growing) high traffic locations such as restaurants, medical offices, breweries and coffee shops.
Each issue has the following sections:
Museums and Visual Arts – from recent works to our rich history, each issue will feature a place to enjoy it.
On the Move – whether walking on a nature trail or participating in an organized team sport, there is plenty of opportunity on the Peninsula to get moving.
Peninsula People – our area has many good people doing great things. Each issue highlights a person and organization who deserves attention.
Local Retail – dedicated to promoting the “Shop Local” campaign year-round.
Food Finds – features local restaurants, food festivals, food created here and farmers’ markets.
On Stage – showcases the area’s vibrant performing arts and music scene.
Wednesday Weekly E-newsletter is an informative newsletter with articles about upcoming entertainment and community events.
In an effort to be a community steward, VA Peninsula Media weekly newsletter also features non-profit requests. We partnered with the Peninsula SPCA to feature an adoptable pet each week.
Website, VaPeninsulaMedia.com is a weekly-updated website and coincides with the newsletter.
For advertising opportunities and article considerations, contact: Susan at 757 869 6952 or Scott at 757 869 6870 or info@VaPeninsulaMedia.com
Publisher and Executive Editor Susan Smigielski Acker
Susan is a 15-year Virginia Peninsula freelance journalist with more than 25 years of writing and editing experience. She also spent time in advertising sales.
Susan’s first lived on the Peninsula as a preschooler when her father was stationed at Naval Weapons Station and her mother worked at McDonald Army Health Center. The family lived in Lee Hall for two years before settling in Norfolk where Susan was educated from kindergarten to college. She, along with her brothers, are first-generation college graduates from Old Dominion University. She left Virginia for the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll where she wrote and edited for the post’s newspaper. She then worked as a journalist South Georgia. She has also lived and worked in Michigan and Texas.
Susan and her husband, Scott, moved to Newport News more than 15 years ago, when their daughters, Charlotte and Julia, were babies.
Susan loves the Virginia Peninsula for the green spaces, summer weekly outdoor concerts, the beaches plus rich arts and historic culture.
Chief Operating Officer, Scott Acker, spent many years in corporate accounting.
A Texas native, Scott graduated from Texas A&M University and earned his MBA from Texas Christian University. His career brought him to the Virginia Peninsula in the early 1990s. He left the area in 1998 to move to Michigan and later Texas. He came back to the Peninsula 15 years ago with wife, Susan, and two daughters, Charlotte and Julia. While he misses regularly eating Texas barbeque, he truly has become a lover of softshell crabs.
Julia Verden-Hillebrand is German born and has worked in the creative field for over 25 years. She is the founder and owner of DesignHaus Creative Services, a small, woman-owned business, established in Hampton, VA in 2017.
She offers a wide scope of creative services and specializes on brand development and consulting. Her philosophy is to guide her clients through their projects from start to finish. Meeting with her clients, listening to their vision, this is where her work starts. Her extensive experience will be the cutting edge that makes their business stand out.
Julia studied Visual Communication in Mainz, Germany. She has worked in video post-production and in broadcast. After moving to the United States, she expanded her work to include other fields of graphic design, such as print design and web design. The decision to create her own company was the fulfillment of a long-held dream.
Her hobby is ballroom dancing. Julia met her husband, Scott, on the dance floor and they competed in International Standard and Latin dances. They live in Hampton and also enjoy traveling.
Miah A. Cox is a third-year journalism student from Beckley, West Virginia. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Hampton University. Miah aspires to give back to the community in every aspect, and in hopes to accomplish this, Miah dreams to start her own non-profit organization to support her mountaineer community in West Virginia while launching a career in broadcast journalism. She currently participates in a multitude of organizations at Hampton University including the HerCampus Magazine and the local news station WHOVTV. Miah focuses on writing for these organizations and Virginia Peninsula Magazine, where she displays her determination, wittiness, and curiosity within each writing experience. Her worldview of life is driven by The Gospel, with this she dedicates her life to actions of purpose. Miah is a powerful force in the workplace using her positive attitude to encourage others to work hard and succeed.
Julia Frances Acker is VA Peninsula Media’s artist. She created the Astrid cartoon image that hides in the pages of VA Peninsula Magazine. Julia is a junior at Menchville High School in Newport News. She volunteers with Fair Share, an organization helping the community.
Astrid Mittens Acker is VA Peninsula Media’s resident cat. During the day, she hangs out in her back yard, chasing squirrels and sleeping. At night, she spends time with her family, begging for treats and being a muse for her mother, Julia.