Comprehensive guide to New Jersey's daily newspapers, weekly publications, and community news sources. From The Star-Ledger's storied history to vibrant community weeklies, discover over 300 newspapers serving the Garden State's 9 million residents across 21 counties.
Total Newspapers
Daily Publications
Monthly Digital Visitors (NJ.com)
First NJ Newspaper Founded
New Jersey has a rich newspaper history dating back to 1765 when The Constitutional Courant was founded in Woodbridge. Over nearly 2,000 newspapers have been published in New Jersey throughout its history. The New Jersey State Library and State Archives maintain extensive collections of historical newspapers on microfilm, with nearly 600 titles preserved alphabetically by county.
The industry has undergone significant transformation in recent decades. The Star-Ledger, which once sold nearly 450,000 copies daily and 750,000 on Sundays in the 1980s-1990s, saw its circulation decline to 34,400 daily by 2023 before ending print operations entirely in February 2025. The Bergen Record experienced similar declines, dropping from 136,074 weekday circulation to 25,312 after Gannett's 2016 acquisition.
Despite print declines, digital news consumption has surged. NJ.com attracts over 15 million unique monthly visitors and fields the state's largest editorial staff of approximately 115 journalists.
The New Jersey Press Association serves as the professional organization for newspapers across the state. The NJPA publishes public notices from member newspapers and maintains resources for journalists and publishers. Member newspapers can be found at njpa.org/njpa/members.html.
The Star-Ledger is New Jersey's largest newspaper with a combined weekday print and digital circulation of approximately 125,000 (140,000 Sunday). Its digital platform NJ.com attracts over 15 million unique monthly visitors, making it the state's dominant news source. The newspaper ceased its print edition on February 2, 2025, and continues to publish digitally.
Historically, The Star-Ledger reached its peak circulation in the 1980s-1990s with nearly 450,000 daily copies and 750,000 on Sundays, ranking among the top 15 U.S. newspapers.
As of 2020, there were over 300 newspapers in print in New Jersey. This includes 13 daily publications (published Monday-Sunday), plus numerous weekly and community newspapers serving the state's 21 counties. The breakdown shows 133 newspapers in free circulation and 95 in paid circulation, with a combined circulation of 4,595,716.
Historically, nearly 2,000 newspapers have been published in New Jersey since The Constitutional Courant was founded in Woodbridge in 1765.
The Star-Ledger ceased its print edition on February 2, 2025, transitioning to a digital-only format via NJ.com. The newspaper's leadership cited "rising costs, decreasing circulation and reduced demand for print" as reasons for the closure.
Print circulation had dropped dramatically from 110,000 daily in 2015 to just 34,400 in 2023 (a 15% decline in 2023 alone, followed by a 21% decline in 2024). Despite ending print operations, The Star-Ledger continues to produce journalism through NJ.com with approximately 115 journaliststhe largest editorial staff in New Jersey.
The primary daily newspaper covering the Jersey Shore is the Asbury Park Press, which serves Monmouth and Ocean counties. Founded in 1879 and owned by Gannett since 1997, it's the third-largest daily in New Jersey.
The Press of Atlantic City covers the southern Jersey Shore, focusing on Atlantic County and the casino/tourism industry.
Weekly publications include The Coast Star (Manasquan, Belmar, Spring Lake area) and Micromedia Publications' seven weekly papers: The Toms River Times, Manchester Times, Berkeley Times, Brick Times, Jackson Times, Southern Ocean Times, and Howell Times.
The Constitutional Courant, founded in 1765 in Woodbridge, New Jersey, is the earliest known New Jersey newspaper. Among newspapers still publishing today, The Star-Ledger traces its roots to 1832, while The Jersey Journal has been serving Hudson County since 1867 (over 150 years).
The oldest collegiate newspaper is The Daily Targum at Rutgers University, founded as a yearbook in 1866 and converted to a newspaper in 1869making it the oldest undergraduate newspaper in the United States. The Signal at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) dates back to 1855.
Gannett (USA TODAY Network) owns several major New Jersey newspapers:
In March 2025, Gannett reached a contract agreement with journalists' unions at the Asbury Park Press, Courier News, and Home News Tribune after a three-year battle, averting a planned walkout.
Historical New Jersey newspapers are available through multiple resources:
New Jersey's major college newspapers include:
Hudson County is served by several publications:
The Record (NorthJersey.com) also covers portions of Hudson County as part of its North Jersey coverage area.
New Jersey's newspaper industry has undergone dramatic transformation:
Last updated on November 27, 2025