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The ''Record-Journal'' is an American
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 ...
based in
Meriden, Connecticut Meriden ( ) is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located halfway between the regional cities of New Haven, Connecticut, New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford. The city is part of the South Central Connecticut Planni ...
, that dates back to the years immediately following the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. It was owned by the Record-Journal Publishing Company, a family-owned business entity, until it was sold to
Hearst Communications Hearst Corporation, Hearst Holdings Inc. and Hearst Communications Inc. comprise an American multinational mass media and business information conglomerate owned by the Hearst family and based in Hearst Tower in Midtown Manhattan in New York ...
Connecticut Media Group in November 2023.


History

The ''Record-Journal'' dates back to a
weekly newspaper Weekly newspaper is a general-news or Current affairs (news format), current affairs publication that is issued once or twice a week in a wide variety broadsheet, magazine, and electronic publishing, digital formats. Similarly, a biweekly newspap ...
called the ''Weekly Visitor'' established in 1867.record-journal-named-one-of-the-top-family-owned-businesses-in.html In 1892, E.E. Smith and Thomas Warnock bought it and converted it to a daily. Co-founder Thomas Warnock was editor of the paper for almost half a century. E.E. Smith was the first of four generations to lead the ''Record-Journal'' as publisher. E.E. Smith was followed by his son, Wayne C. Smith, who served as publisher until his death in 1966. In 1977, ''The Morning Record'' and the ''Meriden Journal'' merged and became the ''Record-Journal''. Carter White took over for his stepfather and was publisher until his retirement in 1988. Carter's son Eliot C. White was the ''Record-Journal'' president, and Elizabeth White, a member of the family's fifth generation, was Publisher and Executive Vice President until the sale to Hearst Connecticut Media. In November 2023, the White family sold the ''Record-Journal'', along with seven weekly newspapers and its digital advertising agency, to
Hearst Communications Hearst Corporation, Hearst Holdings Inc. and Hearst Communications Inc. comprise an American multinational mass media and business information conglomerate owned by the Hearst family and based in Hearst Tower in Midtown Manhattan in New York ...
. The deal included ''The Cheshire Citizen'', ''The Southington-Plainville Citizen'', ''The Town Times,'' ''The Berlin Citizen'', ''The North Haven Citizen'' and ''The Cheshire Herald''. After the sale was finalized, Hearst offered full-time positions to about half of RJ Media Group’s staff.


Expansion

During the first decade of the 21st century, the Record-Journal company doubled in size with seven acquisitions and seventeen start-ups, expanding into new markets and adding 100 people to its Rhode Island and Florida operations. By the middle of the decade, the ''Record-Journal''s daily publication comprised 45 percent of total business of the company. The year 2006 marked the company's 140th birthday, and found itself shifting again, this time embracing its online presence as Elizabeth White became new media director and led the launch of Myrecordjournal.com, the ''Record-Journal''s community news and advertising web site. The number of site visits subsequently became over 700,000 per month. The daily paper's circulation was 16,711 daily, 17,896 Sundays in 2011. In 2013–2014, circulation was 14,662 daily (last quarter, 2014) and 17,065 Sundays (2013). In October 2015, the Record-Journal Publishing Co. moved from 11 Crown St. to a new headquarters at 500 S. Broad St. in Meriden. As part of the move, the company rebranded as RJ Media Group. In August 2018, the Record-Journal Publishing Co. sold
Westerly, Rhode Island Westerly is a New England town, town on the Coast, southwestern coastline of Washington County, Rhode Island, Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, first settled by English colonists in 1661, and incorporated as a List of municipalitie ...
's
The Westerly Sun ''The Westerly Sun'' is a seven-day daily newspaper published in Westerly, Rhode Island, United States, covering portions of Washington County, Rhode Island, and New London County, Connecticut. ''The Sun'' is issued mornings 7 days a week. Until ...
, to the publishing group Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers.


See also

*''
The Middletown Press ''The Middletown Press'' is a daily newspaper based in Middletown, Connecticut that is the main newspaper of Middletown and its surrounding area in Middlesex County, Connecticut. History It was founded in 1878 as the Middlesex Monitor, a dail ...
'', 1878-founded newspaper in nearby Middletown


References


External links

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Record-Journal embraces digital age amid changing media landscape , Hartford Business Journal
{{DEFAULTSORT:Record-Journal, The Companies based in New Haven County, Connecticut Newspapers published in Connecticut Newspapers established in 1867 Mass media in New Haven County, Connecticut 1867 establishments in Connecticut