Connecticut Newspapers Directory

Comprehensive guide to Connecticut's daily newspapers, weekly publications, and community news sources. Since 1764, when the Hartford Courant became America's oldest continuously published newspaper, Connecticut has maintained a strong journalistic tradition serving 3.6 million residents across 8 counties.

116

Total Newspapers

13

Daily Publications

1764

Hartford Courant Founded

170+

Professional Journalists (Hearst CT)

Historical Significance: Connecticut is home to the Hartford Courant, America's oldest continuously published newspaper since October 29, 1764. The state's rich journalistic heritage includes pioneering women editors like Hannah Bunce Watson (1777) and a tradition of investigative journalism.

Major Daily Newspapers

Hartford Courant

New Haven Register

Connecticut Post

Stamford Advocate

Greenwich Time

The News-Times

Republican-American

The Norwalk Hour

The Middletown Press

Journal Inquirer

Record-Journal

Register Citizen

Independent & Specialized Dailies

The Day

Weekly & Community Newspapers

Hearst Weekly Publications

Hearst Connecticut Media Group publishes 13-14 weekly newspapers across the state, including:

Western Connecticut Weeklies

Prime Publishers

Litchfield County Times

Independent Community Weeklies

College & University Newspapers

Yale University

Yale Daily News

Yale Herald

University of Connecticut

The Daily Campus

Other Connecticut College Newspapers

Alternative & Digital Publications

Hartford Advocate (Historical)

New Haven Advocate (Historical)

Fairfield County Weekly (Historical)

CT Mirror

CTInsider.com

Business & Specialty Publications

Hartford Business Journal

Connecticut Magazine

Newspaper Ownership in Connecticut

Hearst Connecticut Media Group

The dominant newspaper publisher in Connecticut, operating:

Tribune Publishing / Alden Global Capital

Independent Ownership

Connecticut Historic Newspapers

Hartford Courant Archives

Connecticut Newspaper Pioneers

Notable Historical Figures

Connecticut State Library Newspaper Resources

Collections & Access

Digital Resources

Industry Statistics & Trends

Current Landscape

Ownership Consolidation

Recent Changes

Digital Transformation

Frequently Asked Questions

The Hartford Courant is the oldest newspaper in Connecticut and the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States. Founded on October 29, 1764, by printer Thomas Green as the Connecticut Courant, it published its first 4-page issue from the Heart and Crown Tavern in Hartford. The newspaper transitioned from weekly to daily publication in 1837 and has been published continuously for over 260 years, documenting Connecticut and American history from colonial times through the Revolutionary War to the present day.

Hearst Connecticut Media Group is the dominant newspaper publisher in Connecticut, owning 8-10 daily newspapers including the Connecticut Post, New Haven Register, Stamford Advocate, Greenwich Time, The News-Times, Republican-American, The Norwalk Hour, and The Middletown Press, plus 13-14 weekly community newspapers. Hearst employs close to 170 journalists across Connecticut. The Hartford Courant, Connecticut's largest newspaper, is owned separately by Tribune Publishing (acquired by Alden Global Capital in May 2021). Only a few independent newspapers remain, including The Day (New London), held in public trust, and the family-owned Journal Inquirer.

Connecticut residents can access the Historical Hartford Courant (1764-1922) for free through ResearchIT Connecticut. The Connecticut State Library maintains the most extensive collection of Connecticut newspapers, including digital archives, microfilm collections, and the Connecticut Courant Index (1764-1799) with 45,857 searchable entries. The library's Newspapers of Connecticut Digital Collection offers free online access to substantial collections (over 100 issues) of Connecticut titles. Additionally, subscription databases like Early American Newspapers include many historic Connecticut publications. Microfilm copies are available through interlibrary loan—check with your local library.

The Yale Daily News (founded 1878) is the oldest independent college daily newspaper in the United States, publishing Monday-Friday during the academic year. Yale Daily News has produced numerous professional journalists at major publications including The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times, and famously launched Garry Trudeau's "Doonesbury" comic strip. The Daily Campus at the University of Connecticut (founded 1896) is the largest daily college newspaper in Connecticut, employing 120+ students and ranked #15 nationally among daily college newspapers. Other Connecticut college publications include Yale Herald (weekly), The Campus Lantern (Eastern Connecticut State), Wesleyan Argus, Trinity Tripod, and Connecticut College Voice.

Connecticut's alternative newspaper scene largely disappeared in 2013 when the Hartford Advocate, New Haven Advocate, and Fairfield County Weekly merged into CTNow (the Hartford Courant's calendar section and website). The Hartford Advocate, founded in 1974 by Geoffrey Robinson and Edward Matys, was known for investigative journalism including exposing Hartford pension fund investments in South African apartheid. The four-paper Advocate chain was sold to Times-Mirror (1999) and then Tribune (2000) before the 2013 consolidation. Today, nonprofit digital outlet CT Mirror fills some of the investigative journalism void left by the alternative weeklies, attracting many former Hartford Courant journalists.

Connecticut has a total of 116 active newspapers, including 13 daily publications that print Monday through Sunday. Of these, 64 newspapers are free circulation and 56 are paid circulation, with a combined total circulation of 2,188,424. The Hartford Courant is the largest by circulation with approximately 93,000 daily readers. Connecticut's newspaper landscape includes major dailies owned by Hearst Connecticut Media Group and Tribune Publishing, dozens of weekly community newspapers, college publications, business journals, and digital-only outlets like CT Mirror and CTInsider.com.

Connecticut's largest daily newspapers by circulation are the Hartford Courant (93,000 daily, founded 1764), New Haven Register (64,210 weekday, founded 1812), and Connecticut Post (53,866 weekday / 80,840 Sunday, founded 1883). Other major dailies include the Stamford Advocate, Greenwich Time, The News-Times (Danbury), Republican-American (Waterbury), The Norwalk Hour, The Middletown Press, Journal Inquirer (Manchester), Record-Journal (Meriden), Register Citizen (Torrington), and The Day (New London). Most are owned by Hearst Connecticut Media Group, except the Hartford Courant (Tribune Publishing/Alden Global Capital) and The Day (independent, public trust).

Yes, but very few. The Day in New London is Connecticut's most notable independent daily newspaper, held in public trust after being owned by Theodore Bodenwein to ensure it remains independent from corporate ownership. The Journal Inquirer in Manchester is family-owned and operates independently, though it has a partnership with Hearst Connecticut Media Group. These are among the last remaining independent daily newspapers in Connecticut, as consolidation has placed most publications under Hearst Connecticut Media Group or Tribune Publishing (Alden Global Capital) ownership. Many weekly community newspapers also remain independently owned, though the majority are now part of larger media groups.

CT Mirror is Connecticut's leading digital-only nonprofit news organization, providing independent investigative journalism focusing on politics, policy, and accountability. Founded as a nonprofit outlet, CT Mirror depends on reader support and has attracted many former Hartford Courant journalists seeking opportunities for in-depth reporting. CTInsider.com, launched in 2021 by Hearst Connecticut Media Group, covers sports, politics, and breaking news statewide through a digital subscription model. All major Connecticut dailies also maintain robust digital presences with online editions and mobile apps, including courant.com, nhregister.com, ctpost.com, and others.

Hannah Bunce Watson became the first woman newspaper editor in Connecticut in 1777 when she assumed leadership of the Connecticut Courant (now Hartford Courant) after her husband Ebenezer Watson died. She was one of the first dozen women editors in the American colonies. Despite the challenges facing women in business and journalism during the Revolutionary War era, Watson successfully published the Connecticut Courant during a critical period in American history, demonstrating pioneering leadership in both Connecticut journalism and women's professional achievement.

Related Resources

Last updated on November 27, 2025