Comprehensive guide to Alabama's daily newspapers, weekly publications, and community news sources. Since 1811, newspapers have been documenting the Heart of Dixie's history, politics, and culture across 67 counties.
109
Total Print Newspapers
22
Daily Publications
82
Weekly Publications
81%
Alabamians Rely on Newspapers
Note: Three of Alabama's largest newspapers (Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, Mobile Press-Register) ceased print editions in February 2023 and moved to digital-only formats via AL.com. Print circulation data reflects pre-2023 figures for historical reference.
Major Daily Newspapers
Montgomery Advertiser
Location: Montgomery (State Capital)
Founded: 1829 (as Planter's Gazette)
Circulation: 50,703 daily / 59,081 Sunday
Ownership: Gannett/USA TODAY Network
Notable: Alabama's largest daily newspaper, won 3 Pulitzer Prizes
The Crimson White - Student newspaper since 1894. Published twice weekly (Monday/Thursday) during academic year. Part of UA Office of Student Media
Alice Magazine - Student arts and culture magazine
Black Warrior Review - Literary magazine
Marr's Field Journal - Literary journal
The Southern Historian - History journal
Auburn University
The Auburn Plainsman - One of the most decorated student newspapers in the country. Published weekly during academic year
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
Kaleidoscope - Student-run digital news and entertainment outlet (founded 1969). Transitioned from weekly print to digital-only in 2020
University of South Alabama
The Vanguard - Official student newspaper since 1965. Published Mondays during academic year. Part of Jag Media
Due South - Student magazine
Alabama A&M University
AAMU Student Publications - Monthly newsletter and annual yearbook
University of North Alabama
The Flor-Ala - Student news site serving UNA
Specialty and Alternative Publications
Business Publications
Birmingham Business Journal - Covers Alabama economy, real estate, corporate developments
The Madison Record - Madison County business, legal news, community events (Huntsville area)
Alabama Gazette - Monthly statewide political commentary, history, business news
Alternative News
Lagniappe Mobile - Mobile's alternative newspaper. Arts, investigative reporting, Gulf Coast culture and politics
Alabama Reflector - Independent, nonprofit state government and politics coverage
1819 News - Alabama news, politics, sports digital outlet
Lifestyle and Special Interest
Southern Living - Birmingham-based national magazine covering Southern cuisine, travel, home design
Alabama Living - Rural electrification, co-op news, small-town features
Alabama Heritage Magazine - State history and culture quarterly
Birmingham Magazine - City lifestyle, dining, events
Birmingham Home and Garden - Home design, landscaping
Birmingham Parent - Parenting and family resources
Birmingham Arts Journal - Arts and culture
Legal Publications
Alabama Law Review - University of Alabama School of Law legal journal
Alabama Messenger - Legal notices and court publications
Spanish-Language Publications
Weekly Spanish-language newspaper - Distributed in Alabama and Tennessee
News Deserts and Local News Challenges
Alabama faces significant local news challenges, particularly in rural areas:
Counties Without News: 3 of Alabama's 67 counties have no news outlets
Limited Coverage: 37 counties have only one news source
Rural Impact: Over half of Alabamians in rural areas have limited access to local news
Weekly Newspapers as Lifeline: 82 weekly newspapers continue serving small towns across Alabama
Digital Transition: Major metros transitioned to digital-only (Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile in 2023)
Community Journalism Persists: Despite closures in metro areas, Alabama's small-town weekly newspapers remain a steady force. With 109 print newspapers still operating, 81% of Alabama's adults rely on newspapers for local news and advertising.
Historical Context
First Newspaper: Mobile Gazette (1811)
1850 Count: 82 newspapers, 9 dailies
Oldest Active: Mobile Press-Register lineage (1813-2023, 210 years)
Pulitzer Prizes: Multiple Alabama newspapers won journalism's highest honor
Civil Rights Era: Alabama newspapers documented integration, protests, and social change
2012 Shift: Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, Mobile Press-Register reduced to thrice-weekly print
2023 Digital Transition: Three largest newspapers ended print editions after combined 455 years of publication
Resources and Associations
Alabama Press Association - State trade association representing 105 newspapers. Website: alabamapress.org
Alabama Media Group - Operates AL.com and digital editions of Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, Mobile Press-Register. Website: alabamamediagroup.com
Alabama State Archives - Newspapers database for research. Website: archives.alabama.gov
Alabama League of Municipalities - Maintains newspaper directory. Website: almonline.org
Frequently Asked Questions
All three newspapers published their final print editions on February 26, 2023, after Alabama Media Group (owned by Advance Publications) decided to move to digital-only publishing. The Birmingham News had published for 135 years (1888-2023), The Huntsville Times for 113 years (1910-2023), and the Mobile Press-Register for 210 years (1813-2023). Combined daily circulation had dropped from 260,000 in 2012 to approximately 30,000 by late 2022, while AL.com reached about 1 million people daily. All content now appears exclusively on AL.com with separate Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile editions available digitally.
The Montgomery Advertiser is now Alabama's largest daily newspaper still publishing in print, with a circulation of 50,703 daily and 59,081 Sunday. Founded in 1829 as the Planter's Gazette, it has been Alabama's premier statewide newspaper for nearly two centuries. The Advertiser is owned by Gannett and part of the USA TODAY Network. It has won three Pulitzer Prizes and continues to cover state government, politics, and Montgomery metro area news extensively.
Alabama has 109 print newspapers currently in circulation. Of these, 22 are daily newspapers and 82 are weekly publications. The Alabama Press Association represents 105 newspapers across the state. Additionally, 41 newspapers are in free circulation while 108 are paid circulation. This represents a significant decline from historical peaks - by 1850, Alabama had 82 newspapers (9 dailies), and the state has experienced ongoing consolidation and closures, particularly affecting daily newspapers in recent years.
Yes, several notable independent and family-owned newspapers continue operating in Alabama. The Anniston Star has been family-owned since 1912 and serves Calhoun County and East Alabama with a thrice-weekly publication schedule. The Decatur Daily, founded in 1912, is owned by the independent Tennessee Valley Media Company and covers north-central Alabama. Many weekly newspapers across Alabama's 67 counties remain locally owned, providing essential community journalism in small towns. These independent papers often have deep roots in their communities, with some tracing their history to the 1800s.
News deserts are communities without reliable local news coverage. In Alabama, 3 of the state's 67 counties have no news outlets whatsoever, and 37 counties have only a single news source. This means more than half of Alabamians living in rural areas have limited access to local news about their communities. News deserts disproportionately affect rural areas - nationally, 75% of news deserts are rural. These communities tend to be poorer, older, and less educated than areas with robust local journalism. Alabama's weekly newspapers play a critical role in preventing more counties from becoming complete news deserts.
The Auburn Plainsman at Auburn University is recognized as one of the most decorated student-run newspapers in the country. The Crimson White at the University of Alabama, published since 1894, is another highly respected student publication, publishing twice weekly during the academic year and part of the comprehensive UA Office of Student Media. Kaleidoscope at UAB, founded in 1969, successfully transitioned from weekly print to digital-only in 2020. The Vanguard at the University of South Alabama has served its campus since 1965. Alabama's student newspapers played important roles in documenting civil rights history, including integration efforts and protests at their institutions during the 1960s.
AL.com is Alabama's largest news website, operated by Alabama Media Group (a subsidiary of Advance Publications). It serves as the digital home for the former Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register. AL.com reaches approximately 1 million people daily - far exceeding the combined 30,000 print circulation these newspapers had before ceasing print operations in 2023. The site offers separate Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile editions plus statewide coverage. Alabama Media Group also operates The Lede digital publications, Alabama Education Lab, This is Alabama, and People of Alabama. Hollis Towns became vice president and editor-in-chief on March 25, 2024.
Yes, Alabama has several alternative and specialty publications. Lagniappe Mobile offers alternative news, arts, and investigative reporting covering Gulf Coast culture and politics. The Alabama Reflector provides independent, nonprofit coverage of state government and politics. Business publications include the Birmingham Business Journal (economy, real estate, corporate news), The Madison Record (Huntsville-area business and legal news), and Alabama Gazette (monthly statewide political commentary). Lifestyle magazines include Southern Living (Birmingham-based national magazine), Alabama Living (rural communities and co-ops), Alabama Heritage Magazine (state history quarterly), and various Birmingham-focused publications covering arts, parenting, and home design. A weekly Spanish-language newspaper serves Alabama and Tennessee's Latino communities.
The Mobile Press-Register lineage traces back to 1813, making it Alabama's oldest newspaper before it ceased print operations in 2023. The Mobile Gazette began publication shortly after Mobile was captured by United States troops in April 1813. The Mobile Commercial Register started on December 10, 1821. These eventually merged to form the Mobile Press-Register. Among currently printing newspapers, The News Courier in Athens (founded 1844) and The Montgomery Advertiser (founded 1829 as Planter's Gazette, renamed 1833) are among the oldest. The Tuscaloosa News dates to 1818. Several weekly newspapers including The Call News (Citronelle, 1897) and The Clay Times-Journal (Lineville, tracing to the 1800s) have deep historical roots.
Several resources provide access to historical Alabama newspapers. The Alabama State Archives maintains a Newspapers Database for research purposes at archives.alabama.gov/research/Newspapers.aspx. The Library of Congress has extensive digitized collections of Alabama newspapers including The Montgomery Advertiser (1885-1982), The Huntsville Times (1931-current), and Mobile Register (1903-current) available through chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. Newspapers.com offers searchable archives including The Huntsville Times (1,811,732 pages from 1910-2025) and other Alabama titles. The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library provides access to The Huntsville Times Digital Archive through NewsBank. Samford University Library maintains special collections of Alabama newspapers. The University of Alabama and Auburn University libraries also house extensive newspaper archives for researchers.