An iconic establishment is being killed off after more than a century and a half.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a renowned and impactful news outlet, revealed on Thursday its decision to stop printing newspapers by December 2025.
It will become a digital-only news organization.
Founded in 1868, the paper has long been considered Georgia’s flagship daily.
Its reputation was cemented in the 1950s and ’60s with its aggressive coverage of the civil rights movement, which earned multiple Pulitzer Prizes.
In 1996, the paper incorrectly cast suspicion on Richard Jewell, the security guard who helped save lives during the Atlanta Olympics bombing.
Although he was eventually cleared and featured in a film with Clint Eastwood, the AJC’s coverage served as a warning example in journalism education.
The Journal-Constitution remains a highly influential entity in the South, catering to a state that has gained notable political significance in recent times.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution announced on Thursday that it will cease printing papers in December 2025
Andrew Morse, the paper’s publisher, said the print option had grown too expensive in a letter to readers about the decision
It combined two publications in 1950 when Cox Enterprises merged the morning Atlanta Constitution with the afternoon Atlanta Journal.
Andrew Morse, the paper’s publisher, told readers in a letter that the decision to shut down the presses was both inevitable and necessary.
‘For many of us, reading the paper with our morning coffee is as ingrained in our routine as brushing our teeth or scrambling eggs,’ he wrote.
‘The reality is, far more individuals interact with our digital platforms and products today compared to our print version, and this transition is only becoming faster.’
The storied paper will continue with newsletters, podcasts, short videos, a new mobile app, and a downloadable e-paper.
AJC’s shift mirrors a broader reckoning for American newspapers in 2025.
With increasing printing expenses, advertising revenue moving online, and a decline in subscribers, numerous national and local media have reduced or completely stopped their print editions.
Earlier this year, the Star-Ledger in New Jersey entirely ceased printing operations, while Iowa’s Dubuque Telegraph Herald and Cedar Rapids Gazette scaled back their print schedules.
The publication cut its teeth as a nationally-recognized paper for its coverage of America’s civil rights movement in the deep south
With printing costs high, ad dollars shifting online, and subscribers dwindling, many national and local outlets have scaled back or abandoned print altogether in recent years
National brands like Dotdash Meredith, the owner of People, Better Homes & Gardens and National Geographic, have seen year-over-year declines in subscriptions.
In fact, the two most-read print publications in 2024 were both owned by AARP — hardly a sign of a thriving future maintained by a young readership.
Still, some outlets have found room to grow in print, albeit in niche markets.
The satirical weekly The Onion revived its print edition last year and remains hopeful about the resurgence.
The Spectator magazine is doubling its US output, too. But for most legacy dailies, print is now a luxury.
For the AJC, the move to end its presses will help save money and invest in more online content.
Premium subscriptions cost $0.99 for 12 weeks before bumping to $2.99 per week.
‘Our community needs a news outlet willing to adapt to a significant moment in history and to write the first draft,’ said Morse.
