Introduction to Massachusetts News Media.
Massachusetts is a state in the United States, sharing its borders with the Atlantic Ocean, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. Boston is the capital of Massachusetts and has its fair mention in American journalism history, industry and academia.
First press in Massachusetts
The first press in North America was established in Cambridge, Massachusetts by Stephen Daye in 1690. It was from this press the early newspapers in present-day Massachusetts, The Oath of a Freeman and Peirce’s Almanack was published.
History of Newspapers in Massachusetts
First Paper in Massachusetts
The Boston News-Letter is the first newspaper of Massachusetts as it rolled out its first issue on April 24, 1704. The British government used to subsidize the limited-edition newspaper, the content of which was pre-approved by the Royal governor.
Over the years the newspaper industry in Massachusetts has grown and as of 2021, there are about 270 newspapers in the state. The Boston Globe, Springfield Republican, Boston Herald and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette are some of the top newspapers in the state in terms of circulation in Massachusetts. Other than these, Massachusetts has other community daily newspapers and weeklies.
News agency Associated Press has a bureau in Boston, while the state government owns a local news wire called the State House News Service that provides news feeds from the government to other media organisations operating in Massachusetts.
TV & Radio Media in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has two major TV media markets — the Boston/Manchester and the Springfield area market. WGBH-TV is the leading public TV station in Boston, which is known for the production of national programs like Frontline, Nova and American Experience.
Massachusetts also has several popular FM and AM besides several regional or community-based radio stations. Well known for its higher education, Massachusetts also boasts of some colleges and universities that operate campus radio and television stations. Some of these educational institutes also print their newspapers.
This article will discuss in detail the top newspapers & news websites in Massachusetts.
Boston Online
Boston Online is an online news website in Massachusetts primarily local all facets of news & updates from Boston. Other than local news, the website also covers important national & international news. The website has dedicated sections for news, weather updates, sports news, culture, travel, events, and more.
Boston Globe
Boston Globe is a daily newspaper in the US-based out of Boston, Massachusetts. The paper was established in 1872 and has over the years won 29 Pulitzer prices making it one of the nation’s most prestigious papers. As of 2021, the paper is owned by Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC.
History
As said Boston Globe was established in 1872 by 6 businessmen from Boston, including Eben Dyer Jordan & Cyrus Wakefield. It was a morning daily when first launched and the first issue of the paper hit the newsstands on March 4th.
What do they publish?
- A daily printed edition of the newspaper with an estimated circulation of 92,820 copies (as of 2019). The paper is primarily focused on reporting the local and regional news along with important national & international news.
- An online news website with dedicated sections for local news, sports, business & tech, opinion, politics, investigation, education, weather updates, and more.
- An e-edition of the paper, access to which is restricted to paid subscribers.
Other than these, Boston Globe also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter with these social media handles regularly updated with the latest news and updates. Readers can also follow these pages for prompt updates.
The Republican
The Republican is a daily newspaper in Springfield, Massachusetts catering to the residents of Franklin county, Hampshire county, and the greater Springfield area. The paper was established in 1824 and it is currently owned by Advance Publications.
History
The Republican was established by Samuel Bowels in 1824 as a weekly newspaper primarily focussed on covering the local news & updates. The paper was converted to a daily newspaper in 1844 and its coverage was extended to every town and hamlet along the Massachusetts Valley, as well as from Springfield.
What do they publish?
- A daily printed edition of the paper with a circulation of 76,353 copies (as of 2017). The paper is circulated across the Greater Springfield area.
- An online news website with dedicated sections for local & regional news, sports, arts & entertainment, business, jobs, obituaries, latest news, weather updates and more. While most contents on the website are available to the readers for free, access to certain contents is restricted to paid subscribers.
- An e-edition of the paper that can only be accessed by paid subscribers.
Other than these, The Republican also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter. Readers can also follow these pages for prompt updates.
The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor is a weekly newspaper based out of Boston, Massachusetts. It is a non-profit news publication known for avoiding sensationalism in its reporting. The paper first hit the newsstands in 1908 and was established by Mary Baker Eddy. It is important to note that despite its name, The Christian Science Monitor is not a religious publication.
History
The paper was established by Mary Baker Eddy in 1908 as a daily newspaper and it has over the years won seven Pulitzer Prizes and more than a dozen Overseas Press Club awards. The Christian Science Monitor was one of the early birds when it came to online publishing. They had their website up & running in 1996 and by 2001 they began publishing the e-edition. By 2009, due to a decline in printed circulation, the printed edition of the paper was made a weekly publication.
What do they publish?
- A weekly printed edition of the newspaper with a circulation f 75, 052 copies (As of 2011).
- An online news website with dedicated sections for national & international news, economy, opinion, science & technology, arts & entertainment, politics, local news, etc.
- An e-edition of the paper the access to which is restricted to paid subscribers.
The Christian Science Monitor Online
The Christian Science Monitor ePaper
Boston Herald
Boston Herald is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts primarily catering to Boston and its surrounding areas. Established in 1846, the paper is currently owned by Digital First Media and has a daily circulation of 25,000 copies, 73,913 copies on Saturdays, and 45,833 copies on Sundays (as of 2020). Apart from the daily printed edition, they also publish an online news website.
Telegram & Gazette
Telegram & Gazette is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts based out of Worcester. The paper primarily caters to the residents of Worcester county, the western suburbs of Boston, Western Massachusetts, and several towns in Windham County in northeastern Massachusetts.
History
Telegram & Gazette was established in 1866 as an evening newspaper named the Worcester Evening Gazette. The paper was quick to gain popularity & within a few years after launch, it became the prominent newspaper in the state. Over the years the paper underwent a series of mergers, acquisitions & name changes until it became the Telegram & Gazette.
Today the paper is owned by Gannet and has a daily circulation of 74,563 copies on weekdays, 70,805 copies on Saturdays, and 79,958 copies on Sundays (as of 2012).
What do they publish?
- A daily printed edition of the newspaper primarily catering to the residents of Worcester county, the western suburbs of Boston, Western Massachusetts, and several towns in Windham County in northeastern Massachusetts.
- An online news website with dedicated sections for news, sports, entertainment, lifestyle, headlines, opinion, obituaries, and more.
- An e-edition of the newspaper the access to which is restricted to paid subscribers.
Telegram & Gazette Android App
Wicked Local
Wicked Local is an online news website that covers news and updates from the entire Eastern Massachusetts region and caters to about 160 communities in the region. The website has dedicated sections for news, sports, weather updates and more. The website is actually a network of 100+ news website each dedicated to covering news & updates from a community.
The Harvard Crimson
The Harvard Crimson is a student newspaper in Massachusetts published by the students of Harvard University. It is currently owned by The Trustees of The Harvard Crimson, comprised of Harvard College undergraduates. Established in 1873, it is the nation’s oldest continuously published daily college newspaper and the only breakfast-table daily newspaper in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
History
As said, The Harvard Crimson was established in 1873 as The Magenta which was a bi-weekly publication. It was the first successful news publication from Harvard University as the Dean & faculty of the College had suspended the existence of several previous student newspapers.
The publication was renamed The Harvard Crimson in 1875 and was later made a daily newspaper in 1885.
What do they publish?
1. A daily printed edition of the newspaper that is circulated in Cambridge and parts of Middlesex county.
2. An online news website with dedicated sections for news, opinion, arts & entertainment, sports, and more.
3. An e-edition of the newspaper, the access to which restricted to paid subscribers.
Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod Times is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts catering to the residents of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The paper was established in 1936 by businessman J.P. Dunn and Basil Brewer as the Cape Cod Standard-Times. It was later converted to an independent daily on January 1, 1971, and renamed the Cape Cod Times.
As of 2021, the paper is owned by Gannet and has a daily circulation of 35,776 copies and 39,970 copies on Sundays.
The MetroWest Daily News
The MetroWest Daily News is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts catering to the residents of the MetroWest region of suburban Boston. The paper was established in 1897 as the Framingham Evening News, an evening newspaper and is currently owned by Gannet. As of 2012, the paper has a daily circulation of 17,830 copies, 15,958 copies on Saturdays, and 21,906 copies on Sundays.
Other than the printed edition, the paper also publishes an online news website.
The MetroWest Daily News Online
The MetroWest Daily News ePaper
The MetroWest Daily News Android App
The MetroWest Daily News iOS App
The Eagle-Tribune
The Eagle-Tribune is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts catering to the residents of Merrimack Valley and Essex County in Massachusetts, and southern New Hampshire. The paper was established in 1868 as the Lawrence Daily Eagle and was owned by the Rogers family until Community Newspaper Holdings acquired the newspaper in 2005.
As per the latest survey of 2012, the paper had a daily circulation of 35,397 copies & a Sunday circulation of 36,904 copies.
The Sun (Lowell)
The Sun is also known as The Lowell Sun is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts serving towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the Greater Lowell area and beyond. The paper first hit the newsstands in 1878 as the Lowell Weekly Sun and it over the years underwent a series of mergers and acquisitions before becoming The Sun.
Today the paper is owned by MediaNews group and daily circulation of 42,899 copies and 47,897 copies on Sundays (As of 2011).
The Standard-Times
The Standard-Times is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts owned by Gannet. The paper was established in 1850, as Daily Evening Standard and over the years underwent a series of mergers and acquisitions before becoming The Standard-Times. With a daily circulation of 21,582 and 23,070 on Sundays, The Standard-Times is the largest of three daily newspapers covering Southern Massachusetts.
Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also publishes an online news website & an e-edition.
The Standard-Times Android App
The Salem Evening News
The Salem Evening News is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts catering to the residents of southern Essex County, Massachusetts. As the name suggests, the paper is published Monday through Saturday afternoons and has a daily circulation of 20,295 copies.
Apart from the daily printed edition the paper also publishes an online news website with dedicated sections for news, sports, opinion, magazines, classifieds, headlines, latest news, and more.
The Recorder
The Recorder also knows as The Greenfield Recorder is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts catering to the residents of Franklin County. The paper was established in 1792, as The Impartial Intelligencer and is currently owned by Newspapers of New England. It is one of the oldest newspapers in the country and the second oldest daily in Massachusetts.
Apart from the daily printed edition the paper also publishes an online news website and an e-edition.
The Berkshire Eagle
The Berkshire Eagle is a daily newspaper published in Pittsfield, and covering all of Berkshire County, and four New York communities near Pittsfield. The history of the paper can be traced back to The Western Star, a weekly newspaper that was published in 1789.
As of 2021, the paper is owned by New England Newspapers, Inc. and has a daily circulation of 23,835 copies and a Sunday circulation of 26,708 copies.
The Berkshire Eagle Android App
Patriot Ledger
Patriot Ledger is a daily local newspaper in Massachusetts catering to the residents of Quincy & its surroundings in Norfolk county. The paper was established in 1837 as the Quincy Patriot by John Adams Green and Edmund Butler Osborne. As of 2021, the paper is owned by Gannet and is a prominent newspaper in the state.
Apart from the daily printed edition the paper also publishes an online news website and an e-edition.
The Sun Chronicle
The Sun Chronicle is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts primarily catering to the readers in Attleboro, North Attleborough, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norfolk, Norton, Plainville, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Wrentham in Massachusetts. The paper as seen today was established by Guy S. DeVany by merging the erstwhile newspapers The Attleboro Sun and The Evening Chronicle.
As of 2021, the paper is owned by Triboro Massachusetts News Media and has a daily circulation of 10,400 copies (As of 2018).
The Foxboro Reporter
The Foxboro Reporter is a weekly newspaper in Massachusetts catering to the readers in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts. Established in 1884, it is now owned by Triboro Massachusetts News Media and is a sister concern of The Sun Chronicle.
Other than the weekly newspaper, they also publish an online news website.
Boston Business Journal
Boston Business Journal is a weekly business newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts. It is was first launched by Robert Bergenheim and launched its first issue on March 2, 1981. Today the paper is owned by American City Business Journals and is a prominent business publication in Boston.
Boston Business Journal Online
The Enterprise
The Enterprise is an afternoon daily newspaper in Massachusetts catering to the residents of Brockton and nearby towns in northern Bristol and Plymouth counties, and southern Norfolk County. The paper was established in 1881 and is currently owned by Gannet. As per the readership survey of 2012, The Enterprise had a daily circulation of 22,454 copies, 18,988 copies on Saturdays, and 25,985 copies on Sundays.
The Martha’s Vineyard Times
The Martha’s Vineyard Times is an independently owned weekly newspaper on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. The newspaper was established in 1984 by Al Brickman, Robert Carroll, Fred Ferro, Allen Jones, and Edward Redstone. As of 2021, the paper is owned by Barbara and Peter Oberfest.
The Martha’s Vineyard Times Online
The Daily News of Newburyport
As the name suggests, The Daily News of Newburyport is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts catering to the readers in northeastern Essex County. The paper was established in 1887 by Philip Saltonstall Weld and is currently owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.
The Daily News of Newburyport Online
The Daily News of Newburyport ePaper
The Daily News of Newburyport Android App
The Daily News of Newburyport iOS App
The Herald News
The Herald News is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts catering to the Fall River and the nearby towns of Dighton, Freetown, Somerset, Swansea and Westport, Massachusetts; and Little Compton and Tiverton, Rhode Island. The paper was established in 1892 and is currently owned by Gannet.
The Massachusetts Daily Collegian
The Massachusetts Daily Collegian is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts published by the students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The paper was established in 1890 as the Aggie Life which over the years underwent a series of mergers and acquisitions and finally became The Massachusetts Daily Collegian.
The Massachusetts Daily Collegian Online
Worcester Business Journal
Worcester Business Journal is a bi-weekly business newspaper that is published in Central Massachusetts. Other than the bi-weekly printed edition the paper also publishes an online news website with dedicated sections for the latest news, editions, business calendar, and more. Worcester Business Journal also has an active presence on social media.
Worcester Business Journal Online
The Sentinel & Enterprise
The Sentinel & Enterprise is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts owned by MediaNews group. The paper was established in 1838 as the Fitchburg Sentinel and it has since been catering to the residents of Fitchburg, Leominster and several nearby towns in northern Worcester County and northwest Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
The Sentinel & Enterprise Online
The Sentinel & Enterprise ePaper
The Sentinel & Enterprise Android App
The Sentinel & Enterprise iOS App
Vineyard Gazette
Vineyard Gazette is a weekly newspaper in Massachusetts catering to the residents on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. The history of the newspaper can be traced back to 1846 when it was first established by Edgar Marchant. Today other than the weekly printed edition, the paper also publishes an online news website.
Armenian Weekly
Armenian Weekly is a weekly newspaper that is published in Massachusetts by Hairenik Association, Inc. in Watertown, Massachusetts. The paper was established in 1934 as the Hairenik Weekly and its name was later changed to Armenian Weekly. The paper primarily caters to the American-Armenian community & they publish editorials, political analyses, regular columns, short stories, and poems.
Gloucester Daily Times
Gloucester Daily Times is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts published by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. Established in 1868 the paper-primarily caters to the residents of Gloucester, towns on Cape Ann in Essex County: Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Rockport. Other than the daily printed edition, the paper also has an active presence on the web through their news website.
Gloucester Daily Times Android App
Milford Daily News
Milford Daily News is a daily newspaper in Massachusetts catering to the readers in Milford, and several nearby towns in Norfolk and Worcester counties. The paper was established in 1887 and is currently owned by Gannet. Other than the daily printed edition, the paper also has a strong presence on the web & social media.
Milford Daily News Android App
Dorchester Reporter
Dorchester Reporter is a weekly community newspaper in Boston owned by Boston Neighbourhood News, Inc. The paper was established in 1983 and is today a prominent source for news, commentary and events in Dorchester. Other than the weekly printed edition, the paper also publishes an online news website & an e-edition.
Conclusion
The newspapers & news websites mentioned previously are not the full list of the ones that are currently published in Massachusetts. Instead, they are the top ones that are currently circulated in the state. As of 2021, there are about 270 newspapers & news websites in the state. Out of these, Boston Globe is the largest newspaper in terms of circulation and Telegram & Gazette is the smallest one.
While Massachusetts is a state with a rich media history that dates back to 1690 (establishing the first press in North America) the situation of the print newspapers in the state is grim. With better internet connectivity and the advent of digital publication, most readers have shifted to online mediums. This isn’t just happening in Massachusetts instead; it is happening across all US states & countries across the globe. In a report on the circulation of newspaper in the US, it was estimated that the circulation of newspaper in the county has dropped to an all-time low since 1940.
Today most of the local & community newspapers in Massachusetts are struggling to keep their businesses afloat. The drop in circulation of the printed newspaper has impacted the advertising revenue of these small-time newspapers. In a desperate attempt to stay afloat, these papers have either reduced their print run or have shifted to digital publication.
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