20 Classic Newspapers That Have Shut Down
Once the backbone of daily news, these iconic newspapers couldn’t survive the digital age and changing readership habits.
- Chris Graciano
- 5 min read
Newspapers, which provided excellent journalism and influenced public opinion, were once an indispensable part of American society. However, a number of historic newspaper publications were forced to close their door. This is due to the internet’s growth, dwindling ad income, and changing customer behavior. An era has come to an end with the closure of these 20 newspapers, which were previously highly regarded and read.
1. The Rocky Mountain News (1859-2009)
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Denver’s oldest newspaper was a trusted voice for 150 years before financial struggles forced its closure. Despite winning numerous Pulitzer Prizes, it couldn’t compete with digital media and a tough economy.
2. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer (1863-2009)
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A staple of the Pacific Northwest, this paper transitioned to an online-only format after print publication became unsustainable. The move marked the end of an era for traditional journalism in Seattle.
3. The Tampa Tribune (1895-2016)
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For over a century, The Tampa Tribune informed Floridians before merging with its longtime rival, the Tampa Bay Times. The closure was a blow to local journalism, reducing competition and diversity in reporting.
4. The Cincinnati Post (1881-2007)
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Once a major force in Ohio journalism, this paper could not recover from plummeting readership and ad losses. It officially ceased publication on the last day of 2007.
5. The Baltimore Examiner (2006-2009)
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A short-lived but influential free daily newspaper, The Baltimore Examiner provided in-depth reporting in Maryland’s largest city. Despite its efforts to shake up the market, financial difficulties sealed its fate after three years.
6. The Honolulu Advertiser (1856-2010)
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Hawaii’s largest and oldest newspaper merged with its competitor, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, to form the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The consolidation was necessary to maintain local journalism but marked the end of a historic publication.
7. The San Juan Star (1959-2009)
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This award-winning English-language newspaper was a key voice in Puerto Rico before financial struggles led to its closure. It was particularly valued for covering local politics and issues affecting Puerto Ricans and mainland Americans.
8. The Philadelphia Bulletin (1847-1982)
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Once the most-read paper in Philadelphia, it couldn’t survive growing competition from television and rival newspapers. After multiple attempts to revive it, the Bulletin ultimately faded into history.
9. The New York Sun (1833-1950, 2002-2008)
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Originally a pioneer in affordable newspapers, The Sun was known for its investigative reporting and the famous editorial “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus.” A short-lived revival in the 2000s couldn’t save it from financial collapse.
10. The Pittsburgh Press (1884-1992)
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Once Pittsburgh’s leading daily newspaper, it was shuttered following a labor dispute that turned into a lengthy strike. Although the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette absorbed some of its assets, the closure marked the end of a once-thriving newspaper.
11. The Tucson Citizen (1870-2009)
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Arizona’s oldest newspaper ended its print run after nearly 140 years due to declining circulation and financial pressures. While it continued as an online publication, the paper’s influence diminished significantly.
12. The Chicago Daily News (1875-1978)
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This afternoon paper once rivaled the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, but a drop in readership led to its downfall. Known for its quality investigative journalism, its closure left a gap in Chicago’s media landscape.
13. The Arkansas Gazette (1819-1991)
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Once the oldest newspaper west of the Mississippi, the Gazette was a major force in Arkansas journalism. A merger with the Arkansas Democrat created the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, but the original paper’s independent identity was lost.
14. The Washington Star (1852-1981)
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A major competitor to The Washington Post, this paper once had a strong readership, particularly among political circles. Financial difficulties and changing media trends led to its shutdown.
15. The Birmingham Post-Herald (1850-2005)
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Alabama’s longest-running newspaper was a casualty of declining circulation and advertising revenue. Despite efforts to adapt, it eventually folded, leaving The Birmingham News as the city’s primary paper.
16. The Minneapolis Star (1930-1982)
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A major Minnesota newspaper, it merged with the Minneapolis Tribune to form the Star Tribune. While a new paper emerged, the loss of its independent brand was deeply felt.
17. The Kansas City Times (1867-1990)
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This paper played a crucial role in Missouri journalism before merging with the Kansas City Star. It had won multiple Pulitzer Prizes but couldn’t sustain itself in the modern media environment.
18. The Cleveland Press (1878-1982)
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Once Cleveland’s top newspaper, The Press struggled as readership declined in favor of competitors like The Plain Dealer. Its closure marked the end of a long tradition of afternoon papers in the city.
19. The Detroit Times (1900-1960)
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A key player in Michigan’s newspaper scene, The Detroit Times was eventually bought out by The Detroit News. The consolidation erased a once-important voice in the region’s journalism.
20. The Boston Evening Globe (1872-1979)
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Originally a separate edition of The Boston Globe, the Evening Globe was one of the last major afternoon newspapers in the U.S. Declining demand for evening papers led to its eventual shutdown. The Boston Globe survived, but this historic edition did not.