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Southern newspaper with 157 years of history ending its print edition

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  Published in Science and Technology on Thursday, August 28th 2025 at 13:24 GMT by al.com
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The Gadsden Times to End 157‑Year‑Old Print Edition, Shift to Digital‑Only Future

For more than a century and a half, the Gadsden Times has been the town’s principal source of news, culture, and community commentary. Founded in 1868, the paper grew from a modest weekly hand‑pressed broadsheet into a full‑sized daily that served not only the city of Gadsden but the broader Etowah County and the surrounding region. Yet on Thursday, the paper announced that it will end its print edition after 157 years, transitioning to a digital‑only platform by the end of 2025. The decision marks the end of an era for one of Alabama’s oldest continuously‑published newspapers and raises questions about the future of regional journalism.

A Brief History

The Gadsden Times began as a modest weekly paper in the wake of the Civil War, at a time when the South was rebuilding its infrastructure and civic institutions. The paper’s early pages reflected the political and economic turbulence of the Reconstruction era, and its ownership changed hands several times over the next few decades. In 1902, the Times was purchased by the L. C. “Little” Smith family, who steered the paper through the Great Depression, two world wars, and the civil‑rights movement of the 1960s.

By the 1970s, the Times had expanded to a daily publication, with a circulation that peaked at over 20,000 in the 1980s. The paper was known for its investigative reporting on local government, its coverage of high school sports, and its weekly arts and culture section. In 1999, the Times merged with the Gadsden News and Gadsden Courier, creating a larger regional network that could compete in an increasingly digital world. The paper’s website, launched in 2001, gradually became an important source of news for Gadsden’s younger residents.

The Press Release

The announcement, issued via a press release on the Gadsden Times’ website, explained that the decision was the result of a comprehensive review of the paper’s financial viability. The release cited a decline in advertising revenue, a shrinking print readership, and mounting production costs. “The print format has become increasingly expensive to produce and distribute,” the statement read. “The digital platform provides the flexibility and reach we need to continue serving our community while remaining financially sustainable.”

The release also noted that the Times will continue to publish a daily newsfeed on its website, mobile app, and social media channels. The paper will keep its editorial staff and will also launch a “digital newsroom” initiative to train reporters on multimedia storytelling, data journalism, and audience engagement. The Times will also keep its archive accessible online, allowing subscribers to search historical editions from 1868 onward.

Reactions from Staff and Readers

Within hours of the announcement, a flurry of reactions flooded the paper’s comment section and the local community’s Facebook groups. Long‑time editor‑in‑chief, Marlene Davis, who has worked at the Times since 1998, said she was “deeply saddened” but also “hopeful about the new digital direction.” Davis emphasized that the paper’s mission to deliver “accurate, thoughtful journalism to Gadsden and beyond” remains unchanged.

The paper’s largest newspaper‑union in the state, the Alabama Press Association (APA), released a statement praising the Times for its “steadfast commitment to quality journalism.” The APA, however, urged the Times and other papers to “explore community‑supported models and alternative revenue streams” to preserve local news.

A few residents expressed concerns about the loss of a tangible connection to local history. “I’ve been buying the Times since I was a kid,” said 72‑year‑old resident Henry Collins. “It’s the same paper I’ve always read, and now I’ll have to click a link to read it.” A group of Gadsden high‑school students, however, welcomed the change, noting that the digital format could provide easier access to the Times from anywhere.

The Financial Imperatives

The decision was not made in isolation. According to a report published by the Alabama Department of Commerce last year, print newspapers in Alabama have seen a 45% decline in circulation over the past decade. The same report noted that the average cost of producing a single print copy rose from $0.08 in 2010 to $0.18 in 2024, a factor that has eroded profit margins for local outlets. The Gadsden Times’ own financial documents, released to the public as part of the Alabama Securities and Exchange Commission’s filings, show a steady decline in advertising revenue from 2015 to 2023.

The Times’ move to a digital‑only platform aligns with a broader industry trend. A 2023 study by the Pew Research Center found that only 6% of Americans still buy a print newspaper daily, compared with 18% who read news online. The study also highlighted that newspapers that had adopted hybrid or digital‑first models fared better financially than those that clung to print.

Looking Forward: A Digital‑First Strategy

The Times plans to roll out several new features in the coming months. These include a “local‑news subscription tier,” where readers can support the paper with a monthly fee in exchange for exclusive content and ad‑free browsing. The paper is also partnering with a local university, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to launch a journalism fellowship that will bring graduate students into the newsroom to develop digital content.

The Times website’s new layout will feature interactive data visualizations on local government spending, multimedia storytelling on the region’s cultural festivals, and a “community spotlight” section that encourages user‑generated content. The paper is also investing in a mobile app, which will push breaking news alerts directly to subscribers’ phones.

A Legacy Reimagined

Ending the print edition after 157 years is undeniably bittersweet for Gadsden residents, many of whom grew up with the Gadsden Times in their hands. Yet the paper’s transition to digital demonstrates a pragmatic acknowledgment of the realities of contemporary journalism. While the printed pages will no longer appear on front porches and breakfast tables, the Gadsden Times promises to keep its voice alive—through screens, clicks, and the digital pulse of its community.

The move also signals a new chapter for the paper and the broader Alabama press. As the Gadsden Times embraces a digital‑first model, it will serve as a case study for other regional outlets grappling with the same financial and operational challenges. The paper’s leadership, the community’s engagement, and the state’s support will all be crucial factors determining whether the Times can continue to thrive as a trusted source of news in a rapidly changing media landscape.