The ''Honolulu Star-Advertiser'' is the largest

daily newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as poli ...

in Hawaii, formed in 2010 with the merger of ''

The Honolulu Advertiser ''The Honolulu Advertiser'' was a daily newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the largest daily newspaper in Hawaii. It published daily with special Sunday and Internet editions. ''The ...

'' and the ''

Honolulu Star-Bulletin The ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin'' was a daily newspaper based in Honolulu, Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the second largest daily newspaper in the state of Hawaii (after the ''Honol ...

'' after the acquisition of the former by

Black Press Black Press Group Ltd. (BPG) is a Canadian commercial printer and newspaper publisher founded in 1975 by David Holmes Black. Based in Surrey, British Columbia, it was previously owned by the publisher of ''Toronto Star'' ( Torstar, 19.35%) and B ...

, which already owned the latter.

History

On February 25, 2010,

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

publisher Black Press Ltd., which owned the ''

'', purchased ''The Honolulu Advertiser'', then owned by

Gannett Corporation Gannett Co., Inc. ( ) is an American mass media holding company headquartered in New York City. It is the largest U.S. newspaper publisher as measured by total daily circulation. It owns the national newspaper ''USA Today'', as well as severa ...

for $125 million. As part of the deal to acquire the ''Advertiser'', Black Press agreed to place the ''Star-Bulletin'' on the selling block. If no buyer came forward by March 29, 2010, Black Press would start making preparations to operate both papers through a transitional management team and then combine the two dailies into one. On March 30, 2010, three parties came forward with offers to buy the ''Star-Bulletin'', but a month later on April 27, 2010, the bids were rejected because their bids for the ''Star-Bulletin'' were below the minimum liquidation price. Black Press canceled the sale and proceeded with transition plans, which came on the same day that they were approved to take over the ''Advertiser'' by the

United States Department of Justice The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a United States federal executive departments, federal executive department of the U.S. government that oversees the domestic enforcement of Law of the Unite ...

. On May 3, 2010, a new company set up by Black Press, HA Management, took over the operations of the paper, while Black Press continued overseeing the ''Star-Bulletin'' during a 30- to 60-day transition period, after which both papers merged into one daily, ''The Honolulu Star-Advertiser''. Both the ''Advertiser'' and the ''Star-Bulletin'' published their final editions as separate publications on June 6, 2010, and Black Press officially launched the ''Honolulu Star-Advertiser'' as a

broadsheet A broadsheet is the largest newspaper format and is characterized by long Vertical and horizontal, vertical pages, typically of in height. Other common newspaper formats include the smaller Berliner (format), Berliner and Tabloid (newspaper ...

morning daily on June 7, 2010. In June 2020, due to the

COVID-19 recession in the United States The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States has been widely disruptive, adversely affecting travel, financial markets, employment, shipping, and other industries. The impacts can be attributed not just to government inter ...

, the paper laid off 15 of its 34 reporters, two photographers, three page designers, seven clerks, three graphic artists and a web designer. In July 2023, four editorial employees accepted a voluntary buyout offer and left the paper. In October 2024, thirteen employees, including six newsroom workers, were laid off.

Format and operations

Prior to the merger, the ''

Honolulu Advertiser ''The Honolulu Advertiser'' was a daily newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the largest daily newspaper in Hawaii. It published daily with special Sunday and Internet editions. ''The ...

'' published in

format while the ''

'' published in tabloid format. The ''Star-Advertiser'' uses the ''Advertisers broadsheet format, while using a modified ''Star-Bulletin'' masthead (with the name "Advertiser" replacing "Bulletin" in the masthead's

blackletter Blackletter (sometimes black letter or black-letter), also known as Gothic script, Gothic minuscule or Gothic type, was a script used throughout Western Europe from approximately 1150 until the 17th century. It continued to be commonly used for ...

font). The newsroom for the combined paper is out of the former ''Star-Bulletin'' offices in Restaurant Row, with the paper printed and distributed from the ''Advertisers facilities in

Kapolei Kapolei () is a planned community in the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States, on the island of Oʻahu. In 1977, the government designated it as the "second city" of Oʻahu, in relation to Honolulu. For statistical purposes, ...

. About 453 jobs were eliminated in the consolidation, leaving a combined staff of 474. The paper sells in retail outlets for $1.50 on Oahu daily and $3 Sundays plus

Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Germany. It is also observed in the Australian territory ...

. All other islands are $2 & $3.50, respectively.

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Newspapers published in Hawaii Mass media in Honolulu Newspapers established in 2010 2010 establishments in Hawaii Daily newspapers published in the United States Black Press newspapers