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| Marietta Times | |
|---|---|
| Name | Marietta Times |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Founded | 1853 |
| Headquarters | Marietta, Ohio |
| Language | English |
| Circulation | (see Distribution and circulation) |
| Website | (see Digital presence and archives) |
Marietta Times
The Marietta Times is a daily newspaper published in Marietta, Ohio that serves Washington County, Ohio, surrounding Belmont County, Ohio border communities and parts of Athens County, Ohio. Founded in the mid-19th century, the paper has reported on regional affairs including river commerce on the Ohio River, local elections in Washington County, Ohio, courtroom proceedings at the Washington County Courthouse (Marietta, Ohio), and cultural events connected to institutions such as Marietta College, Muskingum University, and the Ohio River Museum. Its coverage has intersected with stories involving entities like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and regional energy projects tied to companies such as FirstEnergy and Columbia Gas of Ohio.
The paper traces roots to 1853 rival publications in Washington County, Ohio and consolidation patterns common to 19th-century American newspapers influenced by technologies like the steam-powered press and distribution along river routes such as the Ohio River. Over generations the paper covered events including the Civil War era activities around Camp Chase, postbellum industrial expansion tied to railroads such as the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and 20th-century New Deal projects involving the Tennessee Valley Authority and Works Progress Administration construction in Appalachian Ohio. In the late 20th century the paper reported on local impacts of deindustrialization associated with companies like Bethlehem Steel and regional labor disputes involving unions such as the United Steelworkers. Ownership changes echoed consolidation trends seen with groups like GateHouse Media and Gannett, while editorial leadership engaged with civic institutions including Marietta College and the Washington County Historical Society.
The newspaper’s daily and weekend editions have traditionally included local news, features, sports, opinion and classified sections with beats covering municipal affairs in Marietta, Ohio, county commission meetings at the Washington County Courthouse (Marietta, Ohio), school boards in districts such as Marietta City School District and Belpre City School District, and public safety reporting involving agencies like the Washington County Sheriff's Office (Ohio) and local fire departments. Sports pages report on teams from regional high schools including Marietta High School (Ohio), coverage of collegiate athletics at Marietta College and community events tied to organizations like the Washington County Fair and the Ohio Valley Antique Machinery Association. Features and business sections have profiled employers such as Blossom Music Center-area acts and local manufacturers tied to the Midwest supply chain serviced by railroads like the CSX Transportation network. Opinion pages have carried columns referencing state politics in Columbus, Ohio and national debates involving legislatures like the Ohio General Assembly.
The Marietta Times circulates primarily in Washington County, Ohio with penetration into adjacent counties including Belmont County, Ohio and Athens County, Ohio. Print distribution has been affected by industry-wide declines in circulation tracked by auditing organizations like the Alliance for Audited Media and shifts toward digital access modeled after regional peers including the Beckley Register-Herald and the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. The paper has adjusted print frequency and subscription models in response to advertising trends tied to retail anchors and classified marketplaces similar to those once dominated by chains like Sears, Roebuck and Co. and local car dealerships. Distribution logistics have leveraged regional carriers and newsstands in towns such as Belpre, Ohio, Parkersburg, West Virginia, and Vienna, Ohio.
Ownership over time has mirrored consolidation and local stewardship patterns involving family proprietors, regional publishers, and national groups such as Gannett and GateHouse Media. Management structures have included an editor-in-chief, publisher, newsroom staff and advertising sales teams engaging with clients like regional hospitals including Marietta Memorial Hospital and economic development organizations such as the Washington County Economic Development Council. Editorial leadership collaborated with academic partners at Marietta College and civic bodies like the Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce on community initiatives and sponsorships.
Reporting has encompassed investigative pieces on local environmental issues connected to sites overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state regulators such as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, courtroom reporting on trials held at the Washington County Courthouse (Marietta, Ohio), and human-interest series highlighting veterans associated with memorials like the Oxford Memorial Park. The paper and its journalists have been recognized by state and regional journalism organizations including the Ohio News Media Association and the Associated Press for coverage of elections, floods on the Ohio River, and series on economic transition in Appalachian Ohio. Feature and sports writers have received awards from groups like the National Federation of Press Women and state scholastic press associations.
The newspaper operates a digital site and social media channels to distribute news, multimedia content and obituaries, and to provide searchable archives of past editions used by researchers, genealogists and students at institutions such as Marietta College and the Ohio University. Archival copies are held in local repositories including the Washington County Historical Society and regional libraries like the Belpre Public Library, with microfilm collections accessible through statewide networks such as the OhioLINK consortium. Digital transition strategies have paralleled those of newspapers like the Chillicothe Gazette and focused on subscription models, paywalls and community engagement via platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Category:Newspapers published in Ohio