Portia Times

"This is the Portia Times. We are sponsored by the city government and the local Commerce Guild branch to bring you the latest news in our city for free! We are a monthly publication, so papers will be sent out on the first day of each month. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to visit our office on Main Street."

- Letter from Portia Times

The Portia Times is Portia's local newspaper, operated by Mei, the main reporter who is often spotted running all over town searching for the latest scoop, and Erwa, who helps Mei in the office and with reporting jobs. The newspaper's headquarters is the Atara Times, where Mei had previously worked. The Portia Times office is located in Central Plaza, between the Barber Shop and Martha's Bakery.

On the second day of the first month, the player receives a letter from the Portia Times introducing themselves. Throughout the year, Portia Times offers free news articles about Portia and other Free Cities, as well as allows the player to post ads about their Workshop on the billboard outside.

History
"Erwa and I have been drawing all the illustrations by hand so far, but we're both terrible at art. I even received a letter from Gust telling us to “stop drawing.” That jerk."

- Mei in News Camera

During the time that the player still lived in Barnarock, Mei was sent to the Portia Times from the Atara Times after voicing her unhappiness with not being given any good reporting jobs, instead serving coffee to her seniors. She joined forces with Erwa, determined to make the Portia Times succeed despite their dire lack of funding. At the time of the player's arrival in Portia, the Portia Times operates with little other than painstakingly hand-copied articles and illustrations.

As part of  Read All About It!, Mei tasks the player with crafting a Printing Press to help the Portia Times expedite the article-making process. After the Printing Press is presented to her, it is permanently placed on the raised wooden deck in the back of the office.

Later, in  News Camera, she also asks the player to acquire a Camera to supplement their articles with more professional photos. The player keeps the camera obtained during the mission and can use it at any time, and is occasionally asked to take photos for new articles, starting with  Photos of Portia. After finishing Photos of Portia, Mei publishes her first article with non-hand-drawn pictures, LOCAL BUILDER SAVES THE DAY!

Missions
All of the missions that can be done for the Portia Times are as follows:
 * 1)  Read All About It!
 * 2)  News Camera
 * 3)  Photos of Portia
 * 4)  An Interview of Gale
 * 5)  An Interview with the Research Center
 * 6)  An Interview with the Church of the Light
 * 7)  Letter to the Editor

Billboard
Located just outside the Portia Times, the billboard posts all the latest happenings in town, as well as post advertisements for the player's Workshop. The newspaper covers both local and world news.

Advertisement


"The (workshop name), with Builder (player) at the helm, can fulfill all of your orders anyway you want them! Located just outside Peach Plaza!"

- Example advertisement for player's workshop

For a fee of 100, the player can post one advertisement for the player's Workshop, which lasts a week and rewards 20 reputation points the morning after it is posted. Only one ad can run at a time.

Posting five ads earns the The Advertiser achievement.

==Local news==

The following news articles are listed in chronological order based on main mission completion.

Amber Island Bridge Now Open!
After completing :

The Prince of Thieves
After completing :

Rat Royalty's Refuge Repurposed
After completing :

Dee-Dees Come to Portia
After completing :

Street Lights Installed
After completing  Let There Be Light:

Panbat Epidemic!
After completing :

Builder Defeats Rat King!
After completing :

Meeting Mr. Ack
After completing :

Portia Museum Now Open to Public
After completing and waiting until the Portia Museum opens:

Road to Sandrock Announced
After the fireside meeting that introduces Mint and Gale's road to Sandrock project:

Portia Bridge Completed
After completing and waiting until the Portia Bridge opening ceremony:

South Block Open after AI Crisis in Eufala Tunnel
After completing and :

Fire Fiasco up in Flames, Fanatical Fishmonger at Fault
After completing :

World of Wharf-craft
After completing the Portia Harbor questline:

Locator Computer Location Located
After completing :

Be a Star at Starlight Island!
After completing :

The Game Center Games Once More
After completing :

LOCAL BUILDER SAVES THE DAY!
After completing :

Study Shows: Balloon Usage Linked to Happiness
After completing :

Buses to Sandrock Now Road-worthy
After completing :

==Interviews==

LONG LIVE THE MAYOR
After completing  An Interview of Gale:

THE BRAINS OF PORTIA
After completing  An Interview with the Research Center:

FOLLOW THE LIGHT
After completing  An Interview with the Church of the Light:

==World news== Besides the local news reported by Mei and Erwa, the Portia Times publishes articles dispatched by other Free Cities.

Up From the Ashes: Humanities Subjects in Vega 5 Uncancelled
After completing :