Introduction to Maine News Media
Maine is the northeastern-most state in the United States located in New England. It is bordered by New Hampshire to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and northwest.
Maine was officially admitted to the union as the23rd state on March 15th, 1820. As per the population survey of 2019, Maine has a population of 1,344,312 and is the 9th least populous state in the country.
Though Maine is the 9th least populous state in the country, it is still a significant market for more than 170 newspapers.
History of Newspapers in Maine
Falmouth Gazette (1785)
The first newspaper to be published in Maine was the Falmouth Gazette and it was published by Thomas Baker Wait and Benjamin Titcomb. The paper first hit the newsstands on January 1st, 1785 almost 35 years after the formal separation of the District of Maine from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Within a few years after its launch Benjamin Titcomb left Falmouth Gazette, and the paper was run by Thomas Bake.
Gazette of Maine (1790)
Within a few years after leaving Falmouth Gazette, Benjamin Titcomb started another newspaper named the Gazette of Maine in 1790. It was the second newspaper to be published in the region and ended up being a stiff competitor to Falmouth Gazette.
One of the major problems faced by the newspaper was its irregular delivery. Due to which, subscribers were not willing to pay the subscription charge on time and eventually the paper began facing financial difficulties.
By 1796, John Baker (then owner of Falmouth Gazette) acquired the Gazette of Maine and merged it with Falmouth Gazette. Due to the difficulty in getting news from around the country and dwindling revenues, John Baker later sold the newspaper to one of his partners who eventually ceased the paper’s publication in 1804.
Other Early Newspapers in Maine
It is intriguing to note that contrary to the other presses across the United States, the presses in Maine were always unstable. Publishers in Maine would start publishing a news newspaper and then merge with other papers to keep their business afloat, which is why most of the early newspapers disappeared after a few years.
Though Falmouth Gazette and Gazette of Maine were unsuccessful, they did pave the way for new publications in the region.
Kennebeck Intelligencer was one such weekly newspaper that was published between 1794 and 1800 in the northern part of Hallowell, which later became Augusta. The paper primarily catered to readers in present-day Augusta, Hallowell & Harrington.
The Role of Newspapers in Maine’s Statehood
While discussing the history of newspapers in Maine, it is important to remember the role the newspapers played in the statehood of Maine. It was the Eastern Argus, a Democratic-Republican paper that first raised the claim for separation of Maine from Massachusetts. Eastern Argus was successful in creating awareness among citizens of Maine during the statehood debate of 1815.
With Maine achieving statehood in 1820, three more papers entered circulation one each in Brunswick, Bath, and Eastport. Within a few years, all the counties in Maine had one newspaper in their roaster.
As of 2020, there are about 66 printed newspapers and more than 100 online newspapers and news website. In this article, we will have a look at the top newspapers and news websites in Maine.
If you are looking for complete information on US Newspapers, you can visit the article written by our US Media experts.
Portland Press Herald
Portland Press Herald is a daily newspaper and one of the leading news providers in Maine, USA. The paper is based out of South Portland. It is focused on reporting local readers with articles related to local news, sports, business, politics, and more from the greater metropolitan area around Portland. Though the paper was founded in 1862 as the Portland Daily Press, its roots can be traced back to Maine’s earliest newspapers, the Falmouth Gazette & Weekly Advertiser.
Let’s have a sneak-peek into the history of Portland Press Herald.
History of Portland Press Herald
As said earlier, Portland Press Herald was first launched in 1862 as the Portland Daily Press. It was founded by Joseph B. Hall and Newell A. Foster who were strong supporters of Abraham Lincoln and his ideologies. The paperwas known for their anti-slavery editorial policy and the call for equality of all citizens. The paper quickly gained popularity and the largest circulation in Portland and survived the 20th century.
In 1921 Portland Daily Press merged with the Portland Herald in 1921 to form the Portland Press Herald. The first edition of Portland Press Herald was launched in November 21st, 1921
What do they publish?
As said, the newspaper mainly focuses on covering news & updates from the greater metropolitan area around Portland. The paper covers in-depth articles related to local news, sports, business, politics, opinions, listings, and more.
Apart from the daily edition of the newspaper they also publish a Sunday edition called the Maine Sunday Telegram. It is estimated that the Sunday edition of the paper has a circulation of 280,000 copies.
Portland Press Herald also owns and publishes an online news website. There are dedicated sections on the website for news, business, opinion, sports, food, arts & entertainment, jobs, and more. Readers can also access the various community news portals such as The Forecaster, American Journal, Lakes Region Weekly, Times Record, and Southern Maine Weeklies from the website.
Other prominent publications include Maine Today Digital, Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel, The Coastal Journal, MaineToday.com, and MaineYellowPages.com.
Portland Press Herald Android App
Journal Tribune
Journal Tribune is an online news portal in Maine, owned by the Maine Today Media. It was originally a daily printed newspaper published in Biddeford, Maine and circulated throughout the greater York County, Maine region. The printed edition of the paper remained in circulation until the decision to shutter the publication was taken in 2019 because of a revenue shortfall.
Let’s look at the history of Journal Tribune.
History of Journal Tribune
The history of Journal Tribune can be traced back to 1884 when it was launched a weekly newspaper. The paper was quick to gain popularity, and it was made a daily newspaper. By the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, the newspaper started facing revenue shortfalls because of dwindling circulation.
By 2017, the paper reduced its publishing to 6 days a week, and it began publishing an online-only edition of the paper on Mondays. Maine Today Media group acquired the Journal Tribune in April 2018, and a decision to windup the printed edition of the paper was taken on 2019.
Since then it has remained an online-only newspaper and an online news portal.
What do they publish?
Journal Tribune currently publishes an e-edition of the newspaper and an online news website.
The Times Record
The Times Record is a daily newspaper published five days a week except on Saturdays & Sundays. The paper is based in Brunswick and covers the entire Mid Coast region of Maine with offices in Brunswick. It primarily serves the communities of Alna, Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Durham, Freeport, Georgetown, Harpswell, Lisbon, Pownal, Richmond, West Bath, Wiscasset, and Woolwich in Maine.
History of The Times Record
The history of The Times Record can be traced back to 1967 and the merger of two erstwhile newspapers, namely the Brunswick Record and the Bath Daily Times forming The Times Record.
What do they publish?
The Times Record publishes a printed edition of the paper that is circulated five days a week. The paper covers the news and updates from the entire Mid Coast region of Maine and critical state & national news.
Apart from the printed edition of the paper, they also publish an online news website. The website covers all news & updates concerning Maine with a focus on Mid Coast region of Maine. There are dedicated sections on the website for news, business, opinion, sports, arts & entertainment, obituaries, classifieds, and more.
They also publish an e-edition of the paper that be accessed from their online news portal. While the entire content on the website is available to the users for free, only paid subscribers can access the e-edition of the paper.
The Times Record also has an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & YouTube. Readers can choose to follow these pages for prompt updates.
Bangor Daily News
Bangor Daily News as the name suggests is a daily newspaper in Maine, covering a large portion of central and eastern regions of the state. The paper is circulated six days a week except on Sundays, and it covers local news from across the state, opinion, obituaries, and political coverage.
History of Bangor Daily News
The history of Bangor Daily news can be traced back to 1889 when Thomas J Stewart first launched it. Thomas J Stewart who was into shipping & logging business set foot into the world of publishing by rolling out the first edition of Bangor Daily News on June 18th, 1889. Following his death in 1890 his sons took control of the paper and later sold it to 1895 in J. Norman Towle. Under the ownership of J. Norman Towle, the paper flourished and in 1900 Bangor Daily News merged with the Bangor Whig & Courier.
As of 2020, Bangor Daily News is the only independent newspaper in the state of Maine after Maine Today Media who owns seven newspapers in the state.
What do they publish?
Bangor Daily News publishes a printed edition of the newspaper that is circulated six days a week except on Sundays. Though the paper is widely circulated in the central and eastern regions of the state, it covers local news from across the state, opinion, obituaries, and political coverage.
Apart from the printed edition of the newspaper, they also publish an online website. The website covers all facets of local, state and important news. There are dedicated sections for news, sports, politics, regional news, business, opinion, obituaries & public notices. While most contents on the website are available for free to users, some contents are exclusive for paid subscribers
The Kennebec Journal
The Kennebec Journal is a newspaper in Maine serving Augusta and the surrounding capital area and southern Kennebec County. It is a daily newspaper and is circulated six days a week except on Sundays.
History of The Kennebec Journal
Kennebec Journal’s history can be traced back to 1825 when it was first launched as a weekly newspaper. Over the years the newspaper witnessed a lot of mergers and acquisitions until Maine Today Media acquired the ownership of The Seattle Times Company who owned the Kennebec Journal.
What do they publish?
The printed edition of the newspaper is published six days a week, and it covers local news, sports, business and community events.
Apart from the printed edition of the newspaper, they also publish an online news website. The website has dedicated sections for news, sports, opinion, community, obituaries, notices, and more. While most contents on the website are available to the users for free, some contents are exclusive for paid subscribers. Kennebec Journal also publishes an e-edition that can be accessed from the website by paid subscribers.
Social Media Presence
The paper also has an active presence on Facebook and Twitter. These social media handles are regularly updated with the latest news & updates. Readers can also choose to follow these pages for regular updates.
The Kennebec Journal Android App
Morning Sentinel
Morning Sentinel is a daily newspaper in Waterville, Maine covering cities and towns in parts of Franklin, Kennebec, Penobscot and Somerset counties. The paper is owned by the Maine Today Media Group and is published from the press of Portland Press Herald.
History of Morning Sentinel
The newspaper’s history can be traced back to 1904 when it was first launched as the Waterville Morning Sentinel. The paper was founded by Cyrus Davis, who was the mayor of Waterville. Within a few years after launch, the paper gained popularity, and its circulation increased.
Over the years the paper had undergone a series of mergers and acquisitions until Maine Today Media acquired it in 2009. As per the survey of 2013, it was estimated that the paper had a circulation of 13,992 copies.
What do they publish?
Morning Sentinel publishes a printed edition that is circulated six days a week except on Sundays. The printed edition covers local news, sports, business and community events.
It is important to note that Morning Sentinel and Kennebec Journal shares the same online news portal. There are dedicated sections on the website for news, sports, opinion, community, obituaries, notices, and more.
Morning Sentinel also publishes an e-edition of the paper, that can be accessed by paid subscribers form the paper’s official website.
13 WGME
WGME is a television CBS-affiliated station in Portland, Maine, serving southern Maine as well as eastern and northern New Hampshire. The channel first went on air on May 16th, 1954 and it was known as the WGAN-TV. It was later renamed to WGME in 1983 following the sale of WGAN call letters.
News Operation
WHME broadcasts 24.5 hours of news contents every week, including early-morning, noon, afternoon drive-time, and late-night news bulletins. This is apart from the 17 hours of weekly news content for their partner station WPFO. In total WHME broadcasts about 31.5 hours of news contents every week and is the primary source of local news content in the Portland market.
Online News Portal
Apart from the television station, WGME also publishes an online news website. The website covers local news from Portland, sports news, weather updates, state news, national news, and more. There are dedicated sections on the website for each of these categories of information. Every content on the website, including the image and video contents, are available to the users for free.
The website also has a dedicated section for the latest weather updates. Readers can also watch WGME’s channel live from their website.
Sun Journal
Sun Journal is a daily newspaper in Lewiston, Maine that covers news & updates from all over the state. The history of the newspaper dates back to 2017 when two erstwhile newspapers in Maine merged to form the Sun Journal. The Evening Journal founded in 1861 and The Lewiston Daily Sun founded in 1896 were the paper that merged to form the Sun Journal in 2017.
The printed edition of the paper and its online website is more focussed on covering Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties. They also publish an e-edition of the newspaper that can be accessed by paid subscribers from their official website.
Advertiser Democrat
The Advertiser Democrat is a weekly newspaper in Maine serving the Greater Oxford Hills region. The history of the newspaper can be traced back to its predecessor Oxford Observer that was launched in 1824. As of 2020 the paper is owned by Sun Media Group/Maine Today Media and is one of the prominent newspapers in the region.
Apart from the printed edition of the newspaper, they also publish an online website and an e-edition of the newspaper. While most contents on the website are available to the users for free, only paid subscribers can access the e-edition from the website.
Advertiser Democrat Android App
Livermore Falls Advertiser
Livermore Falls Advertiser is a weekly newspaper in Livermore Falls, Maine. The newspaper was first launched in 1919 as The Advertiser and was later renamed to Livermore Falls Advertiser. Over the years, the paper had undergone a series of mergers and acquisitions until the Sun Media Group/Maine Today Media acquired the newspaper.
Apart from the weekly printed edition of the newspaper, they also publish an online news website and an e-edition. There are dedicated sections on the website for local and regional news, sports, opinion, business, and politics. Unlike the printed edition, the website is regularly updated with the latest news and updates. While most contents on the website are available to the users for free, only paid subscribers can access the e-edition.
Livermore Falls Advertiser Online
Livermore Falls Advertiser ePaper
Livermore Falls Advertiser Android App
Livermore Falls Advertiser iOS App
Rumford Falls Time
Rumford Falls Times is a weekly newspaper in Maine. The paper was founded by Howard James in 1981 and has since remained a weekly newspaper. As of 2020 Rumford Fallsis owned by the Sun Media Group/Maine Today Media.
Other than the printed edition of the paper, they also publish an e-edition and an online news portal. The news portal is regularly updated with the latest news and updates and has dedicated sections for news, sports, opinion, business & politics. While most contents on the website are available to the users for free, only paid subscribers can access the e-edition.
Rumford Falls Times Android App
The Bethel Citizen
The Bethel Citizen is a weekly newspaper in Maine serving the communities in the foothills of western Maine. The newspaper was founded in 1895 and has since been published on Thursdays. As of 2020, The Bethel Citizen is owned by the Sun Media Group/Maine Today Media and is estimated to have a weekly circulation of 3,500 copies.
Apart from the weekly printed edition, they also publish an e-edition and an online news portal. The online portal is frequently updated with the latest news and updates and has dedicated sections for news, sports, opinion, business & politics. The e-edition of the paper can be accessed by paid subscribers from their official website.
The Franklin Journal
The Franklin Journal is a newspaper in Maine published twice a week. The paper was founded in 1840 and has since been primarily circulated in the greater Farmington – Wilton area. Over the years the paper underwent a series of mergers and acquisitions, but it still retained its name The Franklin Journal. As of 2020, the paper is owned by the Sun Media Group/Maine Today Media.
Other than the weekly printed edition, they also publish an e-edition and an online news portal. While the contents on the online news portal are available to the users for free, the e-edition can only be accessed by paid subscribers.
The Franklin Journal Android App
The Penobscot Times
The Penobscot Times is a weekly newspaper in Old Town, Maine. The paper was first launched in 1934 as the Penobscot Times and the Old Town Enterprise. Over the years the paper has undergone a series of mergers and acquisitions, and in 1992 its name was changed to The Penobscot Times. As of 2020, the paper is owned by Sun Media Group/Maine Today Media, and it serves Old Town, Orono, Milford, Bradley, Greenbush, Greenfield, Alton, Argyle, Veazie, Indian Island and the surrounding communities of Penobscot County, Maine.
Apart from the weekly printed edition, the paper also publishes an e-edition that can be accessed by paid subscribers from the paper’s official website.
Old Town Penobscot Times Online
Old Town Penobscot Times ePaper
Old Town Penobscot Times Android App
Old Town Penobscot Times iOS App
York Weekly
York Weekly, as the name suggests, is a weekly newspaper in Maine covering local news in the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, Wells, and Arundel areas. The paper was founded in the year 1943 and has since been a weekly newspaper. As of 2020, the paper is owned by Gannett Co., Inc.
Apart from the weekly printed edition, they publish an online website that is regularly updated with the latest news & updates. The website covers all facets of local, community, state, national & world news, politics, education, business, sports, obituaries, health, and more.
York Weekly also publishes an e-edition of the paper that can be accessed by paid subscribers from their official website.
1York County Coast Star
York County Coast Star is a weekly newspaper in Maine covering the communities of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Arundel, Wells and Ogunquit. The paper was first launched in 1965 and has since been published every week on Thursdays. As of 2020, the paper is owned by Gannett Co., Inc and has an estimated circulation of 9,685 copies.
York County Coast Star also publishes an online news portal and an e-edition. Unlike the weekly newspaper, its website is regularly updated with latest news & updates from Maine. While most contents on the website are available to the users for free, the e-edition can only be accessed by paid subscribers.
York County Coast Star Android App
York County Coast Star iOS App
The Courier-Gazette
The Courier-Gazette is a weekly newspaper in Maine owned by Courier Publications LLC. It first entered circulation in 1846 and has since been focussed on covering community news in Knox county in Midcoast Maine.
Apart from the printed edition of the paper, they also publish an online news portal and e-edition of the paper. There are dedicated sections on the website for news, sports, weather, Arts & Entertainment, community news, business, real estate, classifieds, and more. While most contents on the website are available to the users for free, some contents are exclusive to paid subscribers.
The Republican Journal
The Republican Journal is a weekly newspaper in Maine whose roots can be traced back to 1828. The paper was founded by Robert White, Jr. and Cyrus Rowe following the demise of the Waldo Democrat. As of 2020, the paper is owned by Courier Publications LLC, and it serves the whole of Waldo County.
Apart from the weekly printed edition of The Republican Journal, they also publish an e-edition that can be accessed from their official website.
It is important to note that The Republican Journal & The Courier-Gazette shares a common online news portal. There are dedicated sections on the website for news, sports, weather, Arts & Entertainment, community news, business, real estate, classifieds, and more.
Portland Mainebiz
Portland Mainebiz is an online news website in Maine catering to its business community. The website extensively covers business news, information and analysis for Maine’s business owners and decision makers. The website has dedicated sections for various business news, real estate, banking & finance, energy & utilities, agriculture, updates on various events, business calendar, and more.
Apart from the online news website, Portland Mainebiz also publishes a bi-weekly printed edition & an e-edition. Paid subscribers can access the e-edition of the magazine from the website.
Portland Business Journal (Portland)
Portland Business Journal as the name suggests is the Portland edition of American City Business Journals, the nation’s largest publisher of metropolitan business news. The online business journal caters to its users local business news about Portland. Apart from these, there are sections on the website for the upcoming business events, classifieds and more.
Portland Business Journal Online
Portland Business Journal Android App
Portland Business Journal iOS App
Conclusion
The newspaper industry in Maine, like in any other American state, is dying and decimating. In a recent study on the increase/decrease in circulation of four major daily newspapers in Maine viz; Portland Press Herald/, the Bangor Daily News, the Morning Sentinel and the Kennebec Journal revealed shocking results.
It was found that these papers had collectively lost around 51.7% of their printed circulation over a period of 20 years. This is a decline in roughly 94,000 paid subscribers per newspaper. These results do speak for itself on the profound damage to the printed editions of newspapers in Maine.
Apart from the sharp decline in revenue from circulation, there is also a decline in advertising revenue which has left a severe cut on these newspapers. With the advent of social media and other online models of advertisements which offers more reach, most people in business are spending their dollars there.
According to Ken Doctor, a digital content expert, the newspaper industry in the US has not grown since 2007. Rathe many prominent newspapers in the country have reduced themselves into shortened versions of what they once were.
While the Media industry knows no bounds, we at MediaBuzz are working hard to provide comprehensive coverage of all the news sources in America. We are a team of professional writers with a close eye for the updates happening in the world of journalism.
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- What are the top three newspapers in Maine?
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