Introduction to West Virginia News Media
West Virginia is a US state located in the southern part of the United States. It shares its borders with Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. As many as 1.791 million people reside in West Virginia, which has Charleston as its capital as well as the largest city.
The Mountain State has been a hub to more than 1,100 newspapers in the past.
First Newspaper in West Virginia
American editor and publisher Nathaniel Willis is credited for introducing West Virginia with media. He started Potowmac Guardian & Berkeley Advertiser in 1790. The first paper of West Virginia motivated Philip Rootes and Charles Blagrove to start a newspaper called Charles-Town and County Advertiser in 1797.
Berkeley Intelligencer, The Observer and Western Advertiser are among other prominent early newspapers of West Virginia.
Current State
The Herald-Dispatch is the highest circulated newspaper in West Virginia, followed by other prominent regional newspapers like Greenbrier Valley Ranger, The Register-Herald, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, The State Journal, Hampshire Review, Princeton Times, Spirit Of Jefferson-Advocate, Morgan Messenger and Grant County Press.
The Herald-Dispatch is owned by the HD Media Co. LLC. It was founded in 1909 with the merger of two Huntington newspapers, the Herald and the Dispatch. The newspaper has a recorded subscription of 25,684 for the daily edition and 27,828 for its Sunday edition.
If you are looking for exclusive information on newspapers & news websites in the US, you can visit the article written by our US media experts.
MetroNews
MetroNews, also known as the West Virginia MetroNews is an online news source in West Virginia. Owned by the West Virginia Radio Corporation, it is a radio station broadcasting talk shows and newscasts. MetroNews broadcasts news every morning covering local news and weather update across West Virginia.
Apart from these, MetroNews also publishes an online news website with sections for news, sports, podcasts, latest news, and more. They also have an active presence on Facebook & Twitter with their pages regularly updated with the latest news & updates from West Virginia.
Charleston Gazette-Mail
Charleston Gazette-Mail is a daily newspaper in Charleston, West Virginia owned by HD Media. Though the paper as we see it today was established in 2015 by the merger between The Charleston Gazette and the Charleston Daily Mail, it’s history can be traced back to 1873.
The paper is circulated in the capital city of Charleston and as of 2010, the paper had a daily circulation of 40,671 copies and 68,940 copies on Sundays.
Apart from these, Charleston Gazette-Mail also publishes an online news website with sections for news, opinion, obituaries, image & video gallery, sports, and more. Paid subscribers can also access the e-edition of the paper from the website.
Charleston Gazette-Mail Online
Charleston Gazette-Mail ePaper
Charleston Gazette-Mail Android App
Charleston Gazette-Mail iOS App
The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register
The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register are two daily newspapers owned by Ogden Newspapers and published together in West Virginia. While The Intelligencer is published on weekday mornings & Saturdays, Wheeling Register is published on weekday afternoons and Sundays.
Other than the daily printed edition, they also publish an online news website covering news, sports, opinion, life, obituaries, classifieds & Jobs.
The Intelligencer Wheeling News-Register Online
The Intelligencer Wheeling News-Register Android App
The Intelligencer Wheeling News-Register iOS App
WBOY
WBOY is a Television Channel station licensed to Clarksburg, West Virginia serving the viewers in North Central West Virginia. The channel first went on air in 1957 and is currently owned by Nexstar Media Group.
As of 2020, the channel airs half-hour evening newscast that is aired every day. Apart from the newscast, WBOY also publishes an online news website with sections for news, local, weather, sports, community, and jobs. The news website is regularly updated with the latest news and updates and readers can access all the content on the website for free.
Clarksburg Exponent Telegram
Clarksburg Exponent Telegram is a daily newspaper in West Virginia serving Clarksburg, and the surrounding communities. Established in 1927, the paper is currently owned by NCWV Media. Though the paper as we see it today was established in 1927, its history can be traced back to the newspaper named The Telegram which was launched in 1861.
Apart from the daily printed edition, Clarksburg Exponent Telegram also publishes an online news website. The website has dedicated sections for news, sports, obituaries, opinion, community, records, and more.
The parent company, NCWV Media also publishes four other newspapers, viz;
- The Weston Democrat
- The Morgan Town News
- The Preston County News & Journal
- State Journal
Clarksburg Exponent Telegram Online
Clarksburg Exponent Telegram ePaper
WVVA
WVVA is a television station licensed to Bluefield, West Virginia and owned by Quincy Media. Established in 1954, the channel is aired in the Bluefield–Beckley–Oak Hill television market. Apart from the news broadcast on the channel, WVVA also publishes an online news website with dedicated sections for news, weather, sports, things to do, headlines, and latest news.
The Herald Dispatch
The Herald Dispatch is a daily newspaper in West Virginia serving Huntington and neighbouring communities in southern Ohio and eastern Kentucky. Established in 1909, the paper is currently owned by HD Media Co. LLC.
As of 2013, The Herald Dispatch had a daily circulation of 25,684 copies and 27,828 copies on Sundays. Other than the daily newspaper, they also publish an online news website and an e-edition.
HD Media Co. LLC also publishes another newspaper named the Wayne County News catering to the readers in Wayne County.
The Herald Dispatch Android App
Cumberland Times-News
Cumberland Times-News is a daily newspaper in Maryland serving Western Maryland and the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. The paper was established in the early 19th century and has over the years grown to become a prominent publication in the region. Other than the printed edition of the paper, Cumberland Times-News also publishes an online news website and an e-edition.
The Herald Dispatch Android App
Hampshire Review
Hampshire Review is a weekly newspaper in West Virginia serving the Hampshire County. The paper was established in 1884 and it is currently owned by Cornwell & Ailes Inc. Other than the printed edition of the paper, Hampshire Review also publishes an online news website and an e-edition.
WTAP
WTAP is a TV station licensed to Parkersburg in West Virginia. The channel first went on air in 1953 and it is currently owned by Gray Television. Apart from the newscast on the TV, WTAP also publishes an online news website with sections for news, weather, sports, obituaries, and more.
The Register-Herald
The Register-Herald is a daily newspaper in West Virginia catering to the readers in Beckley, Fayette, Greenbrier, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming counties. Established in the year 1985, the paper is currently owned by Community Newspaper Holdings.
Other than the six-day printed edition, the paper also publishes an online news website and an e-edition.
Beckley The Register-Herald Online
Beckley The Register-Herald ePaper
Beckley The Register-Herald Android App
Beckley The Register-Herald iOS App
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Bluefield Telegraph is a five-day newspaper in West Virginia catering to the readers in Bluefield, McDowell, Mercer and Monroe counties. The paper was established in 1896 and is currently owned by Community Newspaper Holdings.
Bluefield Daily Telegraph Online
Bluefield Daily Telegraph ePaper
Bluefield Daily Telegraph Android App
Bluefield Daily Telegraph iOS App
The State Journal
The State Journal is a weekly newspaper in West-Virginia published across the state. Established in 1984, the paper covers politics and general news from across the state. Apart from the weekly printed edition of the newspaper, the paper also publishes an online news website and an e-edition of the paper.
WVNSTV
WVNSTV is a TV station in West Virginia owned by Nexstar Media Group. Established in the year 1992, the channel first went on air in 1995 and it currently serves the Bluefield–Beckley–Oak Hill television market.
Other than the daily news broadcasts on TV, WVNSTV also publishes an online news website.
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel is a daily newspaper in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The paper was established in 2009 by merging the two erstwhile newspapers News & Sentinel. As per the readership survey of 2010, the paper had a circulation of 21,473 copies and is considered to be the primary newspaper of Parkersburg.
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Online
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Android App
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel iOS App
The Journal
The Journal is a daily newspaper in West Virginia serving Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties. The paper was established in 1907 and is currently owned by Ogden Newspapers. Other than the daily printed edition, The Journal also publishes an online news website and an e-edition.
Hur Herald
Hur Herald is an online news website in West Virginia catering to the readers in Calhoun County. It was initially a printed publication established by Dianne Weaver and Bob Weaver in 1996.
Williamson Daily News
Williamson Daily News is a daily newspaper in West Virginia owned by HD Media Co., LLC. The paper was established in 1912 and it primarily covers local news & updates from Mingo county. Other than the printed edition, Williamson Daily News also publishes an online news website and an e-edition.
The Coal Valley News
The Coal Valley News is a weekly newspaper in West Virginia owned by Civitas Media, LLC. The paper was established in 1925 and has a circulation of 1,176 copies (as of 2016). Other than the printed edition, The Coal Valley News also publishes an online news website and an e-edition.
The Dominion Post
The Dominion Post is a commercial daily newspaper in Morgantown, West Virginia. It was established in 1973 by merging Morgantown New Dominion, Morgantown News, and Morgantown Post. Other than the printed edition, The Dominion Post also publishes an online news website and an e-edition.
Morgantown Dominion Post Online
Morgantown Dominion Post ePaper
Morgantown Dominion Post Android App
Morgantown Dominion Post iOS App
The Inter-Mountain
The Inter-Mountain is an afternoon daily newspaper in West Virginia serving the central regions of the state. The paper was established in 1897 and is currently owned by Ogden Newspapers Inc.
The Inter-Mountain Android App
Conclusion
The West Virginia newspapers & news websites mentioned in the article are the top ones that are currently in circulation. As of 2014, the total circulation of newspaper in West Virginia amounted to 989240. Also, The Herald-Dispatch is the largest newspaper in West Virginia in terms of circulation and Grant County Press the smallest.
Like the newspapers in the other states and across the globe, the ones in West Virginia too are struggling to keep their business. While some unfortunate papers had to wind up their business, others were forced to merge to stay afloat.
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