Introduction to South Carolina News Media
South Carolina is a state in the South-eastern United States bordered by North Carolina to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia to the southwest. With a population of 5,148,714 citizens, South Carolina is a significant market for newspapers.
Let us begin with discussing the history of press & newspapers in South Carolina.
History of Press in South Carolina
Though South Carolina was a part of the colony of England & the colony of Great Britain since the early 17th century, it took almost 100 years before a press was established in the region.
It all began when a requirement for an experienced printer was first put forward on December 7th, 1722 by the committee of the council before Francis Yonge (then agent in England of the province). The demand was accepted by the commons house of assembly which agreed to pay a sum not exceeding £1000 to the printer. But the search for an able printer didn’t bear fruit and the plan was dropped.
In May 1731 the assembly again offered to pay £1000 to a printer who was willing to relocate to South Carolina, and he was also to be paid 25% more than what he was being paid in England. Following which three printers named George Webb, Thomas Whitmarsh & Eleazer Philips arrived in Charlie town, South Carolina.
The first materials to be printed in South Carolina were the existing & new laws of the province.
The First Newspaper in South Carolina
Following the establishment of the press, the printers were quick to establish newspapers in the region. The South Carolina Weekly Journal & The South Carolina Gazette were the early newspapers to be published by Eleazer Philips & Whitmarsh respectively.
Not much is known about The South Carolina Weekly Journal except that it was a weekly newspaper.
The South Carolina Gazette
The South Carolina Gazette first hit the newsstands on January 8th, 1732 and is widely accepted to be the first newspaper in South Carolina. The paper was quick to gain popularity & readership in the region, and it remained in circulation until Whitmarsh’s death in 1733.
The paper made a reappearance in 1734 under the leadership of L. Timothee, and it remained in circulation until 1802. It is important to note that The South Carolina Gazette was the first successful newspaper in the state!
Other Early Newspapers in South Carolina
The tremendous success of The South Carolina Gazette did pave the way for other newspapers. This section will look at the other early South Carolina Newspapers.
- The South-Carolina weekly gazette: 1758- 1764
- The South Carolina and American General Gazette: 1764- 1781.
- South-Carolina Gazette and country journal: 1765- 1775
- Charlestown Gazette: 1778- 1780
As of 2020, there are more than 200 newspapers & new websites that are in circulation in South Carolina. This article will look at some of the top South Carolina newspapers & News Websites that are currently in circulation. We will also cover some important information about them.
If you are looking for exclusive information on US Newspapers, you can visit the article written by out US media experts.
The Post and Courier
The Post and Courier is a daily newspaper printed & published out of Charleston in South Carolina. Though the paper as seen today was established in 1991, its history can be traced back to 1803. Owing to which, The Post and Courier are widely accepted to be the oldest newspaper in South Carolina.
Today, The Post and Courier is the primary source for news & updates from Charleston County, Dorchester County and Berkeley County.
History
Though The Post and Courier were established in 1991, its history can be traced back to the Charleston Courier (founded in 1803) & the Charleston Daily News (founded in 1865). These two newspapers merged to form the News and Courier in 1873.
In 1991 News and Courier merged with the Evening Post and formed The Post and Courier. As of 2020, the paper is owned and operated by the Evening Post Industries.
As per the readership survey of 2013, the paper had a daily circulation of 83,483 copies & 90,168 copies on Sundays.
What do they publish?
- A daily printed edition of the newspaper covering news & updates from in and around South Carolina, and important international news.
- An online news website with dedicated sections for news & updates from Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Goose Creek, Berkeley, Alken. They also cover politics, business, entertainment, and more.
- An e-edition that can only be accessed by paid subscribers.
The Post and Courier Android App
Free Times
Free Times also known as Columbia Free Times, was an alternative weekly newspaper published in the capital city of Columbia. The paper first hit the newsstands in 1987 and had since been covering news, politics, arts and entertainment from South Carolina’s capital city of Columbia.
Like most other newspapers in the state, Free Times was hit by a rapid decline in circulation and dwindling revenues. Owing to which the paper was bought by The Post and Courier in 2016. Free Times published its final standalone issue on September 30th, 2020.
What do they publish?
- Since October 1st 2020, Free Times is circulated along with the paper’s new free, weekly Columbia edition.
- They also host an online news website with dedicated sections for arts, lifestyle, best of Columbia, events, cover story, news, opinion, and other sections for entertainment.
- An e-edition of the paper that can be accessed for free by the readers.
Free Times also has an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The social media handles of the paper on these platforms are regularly updated with the latest news and updates. Readers can also follow these pages for prompt updates.
The Georgetown Times
The Georgetown Times news is a weekly newspaper in South Carolina, serving Georgetown and its surroundings. The paper was established in the year 1800 and is currently the state’s oldest newspaper. Over the years the paper has undergone a series of mergers and acquisitions until the Evening Post Industries bought it.
The paper covers news & updates on politics, arts and entertainment from Georgetown and its surroundings.
What do they publish?
- A weekly printed edition is covering news & updates on politics, arts, entertainment & more.
- An online website with dedicated sections for news, sports, opinion, obituaries, crime, photos, videos, special editions, classifieds, & more.
- An e-edition of the newspaper that can be accessed for free from the paper’s official website.
Apart from these, the paper also has an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The social media handles of the paper on these platforms are regularly updated with the latest news and updates. Readers can also follow these pages for prompt updates.
The Berkeley Independent
The Berkeley Independent is a weekly newspaper in South Carolina owned by Evening Post Industries. The history of the newspaper can be traced back to the erstwhile newspaper, The Berkeley Democrat who was established in 1913 by G.E. McCormick.
Evening Post Industries bought the newspaper in 1987 and later renamed it to The Berkeley Independent in 1990. Since 1987, the paper been primarily circulated in the county seat of Moncks Corner and the surrounding communities in South Carolina.
What do they publish?
- A printed edition of the newspaper that is published on Wednesdays. The paper is primarily circulated in the county seat of Moncks Corner and the surrounding communities in South Carolina.
- An online website with dedicated sections for latest news, sports, obituaries, health, image & video gallery, event calendar, advertising, & entertainment.
- An e-edition that can only be accessed by paid subscribers from the paper’s website.
Apart from these, The Berkeley Independent also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter. Readers can choose to follow these pages for prompt updates.
The Summerville Journal Scene
The Summerville Journal Scene is a community newspaper in South Carolina that is published once a week. Established in the year 1946 as the Summerville Scene by Tom Hamrick, the paper has over the years grown to be a prominent newspaper in Summerville. Evening Post Industries acquired the newspaper in 1997, and they have since owned the paper.
As of 2020, the paper is primarily circulated in Summerville, and it mainly covers local news & updates from the region.
What do they publish?
- A weekly printed edition of the newspaper covering local news & updates from Summerville & its surroundings.
- An online website with sections for local news, sports, obituaries, photos & videos, entertainment, community, entertainment and more.
- E-edition of the newspaper that can only be accessed by paid subscribers from the paper’s website.
Other than a strong presence on the web, The Summerville Journal Scene also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter. Readers can also choose to follow the paper’s social media handle for prompt updates.
The Summerville Journal Scene Online
The Summerville Journal Scene ePaper
Moultrie News
Moultrie News is a weekly newspaper in South Carolina, serving the East Cooper community since 1964. The paper first hit the newsstands as a tabloid, and Carl Meynardie published it. Over the years, the paper underwent a series of mergers and acquisitions until the Evening Post Industries Company acquired the paper in 1998.
As of 2020, the paper is owned by the Evening Post Industries Company, and it caters to the readers in Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Daniel Island and parts of Awendaw in South Carolina.
What do they publish?
- A weekly printed edition covering all facets of local news, updates & announcements. The company claims to have a monthly readership of over 54,000.
- An online website that was launched in 2000. The website caters to its users breaking news, crime alerts, sports, weather, opinion articles, arts & entertainment and more.
- An e-edition that can only be accessed by paid subscribers from the paper’s website.
Moultrie News also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter. The social media handles of the paper are frequently updated with the latest news & updates. Readers can also choose to follow the paper’s social media handle for prompt updates.
Our Gazette
Our Gazette, also known as The Gazette is a weekly newspaper in South Carolina that is distributed for free on Thursdays in locations around the Cities of Goose Creek and Hanahan.
What do they publish?
1. A weekly printed edition covering all facets of local news, updates & announcements from the Cities of Goose Creek and Hanahan.
2. An online news website with dedicate sections for latest news, image & video galleries, headlines, sports, obituaries, arts & entertainment, and more.
3. An e-edition of the paper that can be accessed for free from the paper’s website.
Other than a strong presence on the web, Our Gazette also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter. Readers can also choose to follow the paper’s social media handle for prompt updates.
Aiken Standard
History
The paper was first established in 1867 as the Aiken Press, and over the years it underwent a series of mergers and acquisitions. Among the paper’s previous owners, it was under the ownership of James F. Byrnes & his partner, Alva Lorenz the paper developed into Aiken’s main newspaper.
James F. Byrnes & Alva Lorenz sold the paper to Benjamin Josey King and his wife, Annie Howell King in 1953 who merged the Aiken Press with the erstwhile newspaper Aiken Standard to form the Aiken Standard and Review.
Once The Evening Post Industries acquired the newspaper, they renamed it to the Aiken Standard.
What do they publish?
- A daily newspaper covering news & updates from Aiken County, Edgefield County, Barnwell County.
- An online website covering breaking news, crime alerts, sports, weather, entertainment and opinion to Aiken County, Edgefield County, Barnwell county.
- An e-edition of the newspaper that can only be accessed by paid subscribers from the paper’s website.
The North Augusta Star
The North Augusta Star is a weekly newspaper published in North Augusta, South Carolina. Established in the year 1954, the paper has grown to become a leading community newspaper in the region.
The paper also publishes an e-edition that can be accessed by paid subscribers from the paper’s official website.
The News
The News a weekly newspaper in South Carolina catering to its readers’ local news, and updates on community, social, & church events. Established in the year 1972, the paper has become a leading weekly serving Williamsburg County and surrounding areas.
Apart from the printed edition of the newspaper, The News also hosts an online news website.
The State
The state is a daily newspaper owned and distributed by The McClatchy Company in Columbia, South Carolina. Established in 1891, the paper today covers local news & updates on sports, politics, crime, and more.
History
As said, the newspaper was established in 1891 by the brothers, N.G. Gonzales and A.E. Gonzales. Unlike the early newspapers, The State was quick to gain popularity & readership that by 1945 they purchased the newspaper, Columbia Record.
Over the years the paper has undergone a series of mergers & acquisition until The McClatchy Company bought it in 2006.
What do they publish?
- A daily printed edition of the newspaper covering news & updates from the greater Columbia, South Carolina area, and the Midlands.
- An online website with dedicated sections for news, politics, obituaries, sports, entertainment, opinion, and more.
- An e-edition of the newspaper that can only be accessed by paid subscribers from the paper’s official website.
The Index-Journal
The Index-Journal is a daily newspaper in South Carolina catering to its readers in Greenwood County, South Carolina. Established in the year 1919 by Harry L. Watson of the Greenwood family, the paper has grown to become a leading newspaper in the Greenwood county.
Apart from the printed edition of the paper, The Index-Journal also hosts an online website. The website is one of the trusted sources for news, business, opinions and sports in the county & there are dedicated sections on the website for these categories.
The paper also publishes an e-edition, which can only be accessed by paid subscribers from the website.
Citizen-Times
Citizen-Times is a daily newspaper in South Carolina that is published & circulated out of Greenville. The paper was initially established in North Carolina as a weekly newspaper by the merger of the erstwhile newspapers Asheville Citizen and the Asheville Times in 1870. It was converted to a daily newspaper in 1885.
Other than the printed edition, Citizen-Times also hosts an online website with dedicated sections for local news, headlines, sports, lifestyle, obituaries, and more. They also publish an e-edition which paid subscribers can access from the website.
The Sun News
The Sun News is a daily newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company and published in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The paper was established in the year 1935 as a weekly newspaper by C. L. Phillips and J. Clarence Macklen under the name Myrtle Beach News.
The paper was sold to Mark Garner, who later merged Myrtle Beach News & Myrtle Beach Sun to form The Sun News. The Sun News first hit the newsstands as a weekly publication and became a daily newspaper in 1977.
As of 2020, the paper publishes a daily printed edition, an online news website & an e-edition covering news & updates from Myrtle Beach.
Greenville News
Greenville News is a daily newspaper in Greenville, South Carolina catering to its readers local & national news. Established in 1847 by A.M. Speights the paper has undergone a series of mergers and acquisitions until Gannet acquired it in 1885.
With a daily circulation of 43,288 copies & 63,745 copies on Sundays (As of 2014), the paper is the third-largest paper in South Carolina.
Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also hosts an online news website with dedicated sections for news, sports, life, downtown, business, and obituaries. The paper also publishes an e-edition that can only be accessed by paid subscribers from the paper’s official website.
Fox Carolina
Fox Carolina as the name suggests is a Fox-affiliated television channel in Greenville, South Carolina serving Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. The channel first went on air in 1953, and it has been airing newscasts ever since. As of 2020, the paper publishes 42 hours of locally produced newscasts each week and also hosts an online news website.
The website has dedicated sections for the latest news, headlines, sports, weather updates, community news, and more. Users can also access live TV from the website.
Fox Carolina also has an active presence on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. These social media handles are regularly updated with the latest news and updates, and readers can choose to follow these pages for prompt updates.
ABCNews4
ABCNews4 is a television station in South Carolina licenced to Charleston, South Carolina. Other than the television station, ABCNews4 also hosts an online news website catering to the readers in Charleston, South Carolina region in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
The website covers local and national news, sports, weather and community events in the region and has dedicated sections for the same.
Apart from a strong presence on the web, ABCNews4 also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter. Readers can choose to follow their social media handle for prompt updates.
The Herald
The Herald is a daily newspaper in South Carolina owned by The McClatchy Company. Established in the year 1872 as the Lantern, the paper today caters to its readers in York, Chester, and Lancaster counties local & national news.
Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also hosts an online news website. The website covers local & national news, politics, sports, and obituaries and had dedicated section for each of these categories of news.
The Herald also publishes an e-edition that can be accessed by paid subscribers from the website.
Count On 2
Count On 2 is an online news website run by the WCBD-TV catering to the readers in Charleston, South Carolina. The website covers all facets of the latest news and updates from Charleston and its surrounding areas.
There are dedicated sections on the website for news from Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Colleton, Georgetown counties, sports, politics, local news, classifieds and more.
Count On two also has an active presence on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. These social media handles are regularly updated with the latest news, and updates and readers can choose to follow these pages for prompt updates.
Spartanburg Herald-Journal
Spartanburg Herald-Journal is a daily newspaper in South Carolina primarily serving the Spartanburg county. The history of the paper can be traced back to a weekly newspaper named The Spartan. Over the years The Spartan underwent a series of mergers, acquisitions, and name changes until Gannet bought it in 2015.
Today the paper publishes a daily printed edition & an online edition covering news & updates from the Spartanburg county. The paper also publishes an e-edition that can only be accessed by paid subscribers from the website.
Spartanburg Herald-Journal Online
Spartanburg Herald-Journal ePaper
Spartanburg Herald-Journal Android App
Spartanburg Herald-Journal iOS App
The Island Packet
The Island Packet is a daily newspaper in South Carolina catering to the residents in southern Beaufort County. Established in 1970, by Tom Wamsley and Ralph Hilton the paper has a daily circulation of 16,903 copies on weekdays and 17,875 copies on Sundays (As of 2017).
Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also hosts an online news website covering local news, sports, national news, politics, weather updates, latest news, and more.
The Island Packet also publishes an e-edition of the paper that can only be accessed by paid subscribers from the website.
The Beaufort Gazette
The Beaufort Gazette is a daily newspaper in South Carolina serving the Beaufort county. Established in the year 1897, the paper is currently owned by The McClatchy Company.
Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also hosts an online news website. The website covers the latest local and breaking news from Beaufort, including local weather & traffic updates.
The Beaufort Gazette Android App
The Hampton County Guardian
The Hampton County Guardian is a weekly newspaper in South Carolina serving Hampton County. Established in the year 1879, the paper is one of the oldest newspapers in the state.
Apart from the weekly printed edition, the paper also publishes an online news website with sections for news, sports, obituaries, classifieds & more. The paper also publishes an e-edition that can only be accessed by paid subscribers.
The Hampton County Guardian Online
The Hampton County Guardian ePaper
North Augusta Today
North Augusta Today is a weekly newspaper in South Carolina which is circulated for free in North Augusta. Both the paper & its online news website mainly focuses on covering the local news & updates from North Augusta.
Readers can also access the e-edition of the newspaper from its website.
Barnwell People-Sentinel
Barnwell People-Sentinel is a weekly newspaper in South Carolina. Established in 1852, the paper has since been serving the people of Barnwell County.
Both the printed edition & its online news website primarily covers news & updates from Barnwell County. Apart from these, they also publish an e-edition which paid subscribers can access from their official website.
Barnwell People-Sentinel Online
Barnwell People-Sentinel ePaper
The Charleston City Paper
The Charleston City Paper is an alternative weekly newspaper in Charleston, and it is also the second-largest publication in the metro Charleston. The paper is primarily circulated among affluent locals and tourists, and it covers entertainment, cuisine, and arts news.
Apart from the printed edition of the newspaper, the paper also hosts an online news website.
The Charleston City Paper Online
ABC Columbia
ABC Columbia is an online news portal run by WOLO-TV, a TV station in Columbia. Being an online news website, there are dedicated sections on the website for news, sports, weather updates, top stories, headlines, local news, and more.
Apart from a robust online presence, the paper also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter.
Morning News
Morning News is a daily newspaper in South Carolina serving the residents of Florence county. The paper was established in 1922 as the Weekly News and Revie. Over the years the paper underwent a series of mergers and acquisitions until it was renamed to Morning News.
As of 2020, the paper is owned by Lee Enterprises, and they also publish an e-edition of the newspaper, paid subscribers can only access that. It is important to note that Morning News also acts as a hub for four other newspapers published by Lee Enterprises viz;
- The Hartsville Messenger
- The Lake City News and Post
- The Marion Star & Mullins Enterprise
- The Weekly Observer
Morning News, along with the four other newspapers, is also housed by the same website.
The Times & Democrat
The Times & Democrat is a daily newspaper in South Carolina, owned & published by Lee Enterprises. The paper was established in 1881 by the merger of the two erstwhile newspapers The Orangeburg Democrat and The Orangeburg Times. It had since been catering to Orangeburg, Bamberg & Calhoun County.
Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also hosts an online news website with sections for news, obituaries, sports, entertainment, and more. They also publish an e-edition that can only be accessed by paid subscribers.
The Times & Democrat Android App
The Sumter Item
The Sumpter Item is a newspaper in South Carolina published five days a week. Established in 1894 the paper has since been catering to the residents of Sumter, Lee and Clarendon counties. Both the printed edition of the paper & its online edition covers local news & updates.
The paper also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter. These social media pages are regularly updated with the latest news & updates.
GWDToday
GWDToday is an online news website in South Carolina covering news & updates from Greenwood & the Lakeland. There are dedicated sections on the website for local information, school news, sports, holidays, classifieds, obituaries, and more.
The paper also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter. These social media pages are regularly updated with the latest news & updates.
Horry Independent
Horry Independent is a locally owned and operated community newspaper in Horry County, South Carolina. The paper was first launched in 1980 and has since grown to become a popular newspaper in the region. Apart from the printed edition of the paper, Horry Independent also hosts an award-winning news website.
Horry Independent also publishes other newspapers viz;
- Carolina Forest Chronicle
- Horry County Business Journal
- Horry County Health & Wellness
- Loris Scene
- Myrtle Beach Herald
Cola Daily
Cola Daily is an online news website covering news and events in Richland and Lexington Counties, South Carolina. The news portal has dedicated sections for news, education, sports, lifestyle, obituary, events, and more. Cola Daily also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter.
34. GoLaurens
GoLaurens is an online news website in South Carolina, primarily catering to the readers in Laurens County. The website covers all facets of news & updates and is estimated to have over 91,000 unique visitors every month.
Apart from a robust online presence, GoLaurens also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter.
Charleston Business Journal
Charleston Business Journal, is an online news portal in South Carolina cate covering business news & updates from Charleston region. The website has dedicated sections for business news & updates from various regions, event updates, featured stories, and more.
charleston Business Journal Online
Lexington County Chronicle & The Dispatch News
Lexington County Chronicle & The Dispatch News is a weekly newspaper in South Carolina, serving the residents of Lexington County since 1870. Both the printed edition of the paper and its online edition covers local news & updates along with sports coverage.
Apart from these, the paper also publishes a supplement named the Lake Murray Fish Wrapper which is circulated for free in Lexington County.
Lexington County Chronicle & The Dispatch News Online
Bluffton Today
Bluffton Today is a daily newspaper in South Carolina serving the residents of Bluffton, Beaufort County. The paper was established in 2005, and as of 2020, it is owned by GateHouse Media. Apart from Bluffton Today, GateHouse Media also publishes Jasper County Sun Times, a weekly newspaper serving Jasper County.
Apart from a robust online presence, both newspapers also have an active presence on Facebook & Twitter.
Anderson Independent-Mail
Anderson Independent-Mail, also known as Independent Mail is a daily newspaper in South Carolina, owned by Gannet. Established in 1899, the paper primarily caters to the residents of Anderson County.
Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also publishes an e-edition. Paid subscribers can access the e-edition of the paper from the paper’s website.
Anderson Independent-Mail Online
Anderson Independent-Mail ePaper
Daily Gamecock
Daily Gamecock is a weekly student newspaper published by the students of the University of South Carolina. Established in the year 1908 as The Gamecock, the paper is primarily circulated inside the campus.
Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also hosts an online news website with dedicated sections for news, sports, arts & culture, opinion, and multimedia.
The Tiger
The Tiger is a monthly student newspaper published by the students of Clemson University, South Carolina. Established in 1907 the paper is the oldest student newspaper in the state.
Apart from the monthly printed edition, the paper also hosts an online news website with dedicated sections for news, business, health, lifestyle, tech, games, trending news, and more.
Conclusion
The newspapers & news websites mentioned in the articles are the prominent ones in South Carolina. As of 2020, Charleston Post & Courier is the largest newspaper in terms of circulation.
Like the other newspapers in the country, South Carolina newspapers are troubled by the declining circulation and the dwindling revenue from advertisements. The already limping industry was further hit by the Covid-19 pandemic from which most papers were unable to recover.
Union Daily Times, the newspaper which had been serving the Union County since 1850, wound up their operations on September 30th, 2020 because of the economic impact caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic. Advertizer-Herald, Santee Striper, and The Holly Hill Observer are the other newspapers that had to cease their operations in 2020.
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