Belleville News-Democrat

History

The Belleville News-Democrat was founded in 1858 as the Weekly Democrat. In the early 1860s, it merged with the Belleville News to become the Belleville News-Democrat. It was a family-owned newspaper until 1972, when it was purchased by Capital Cities Communications. When Disney acquired Capital Cities, it briefly owned the News-Democrat until Knight Ridder acquired the newspaper in 1997. McClatchy acquired the paper in 2006 with its purchase of Knight Ridder.

Beginning Oct. 30, 2023, the paper will have its print days reduced to two a week, Wednesdays and Sundays, and be delivered by U.S Postal.

Distinction

The Belleville News-Democrat has been featured on the television programs 60 Minutes, Dateline and Nightline, as an example of investigative reporting. In 2003, an article in Editor & Publisher called the News-Democrat one of "Ten newspapers that do it right" under the leadership of former publisher, Gary Berkeley, and former editor, Greg Edwards. It is also the only newspaper in Illinois or Missouri to grow net paid circulation for ten years in a row, and is a frequent winner in state and regional journalism awards.

In 2007, News-Democrat reporters Beth Hundsdorfer and George Pawlaczyk won the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for "Lethal Lapses", a series investigating errors of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services that resulted in the deaths of 53 children.

On February 13, 2020, The McClatchy Company and 54 affiliated companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The company cited pension obligations and excessive debt as the primary reasons for the filing.

Staff

The newspaper employs approximately 280 people, plus about 75 at its weekly ancillary papers. The newsroom staff consists of 26 reporters, 12 editors, seven copy editors, four photographers, three newsroom assistants and an editorial cartoonist, (see: Glenn McCoy).

Other publications

It publishes separate editions in Madison County and St. Clair County.

The News-Democrat also publishes the following weekly papers:

• The Highland News Leader
• Tri-County Leader
• O'Fallon Progress
• Command Post (serving Scott Air Force Base)
• • Legal Reporter*
• Penny Saver

Counties served

Illinois

• St. Clair
• Madison
• Bond
• Clinton
• Washington
• Monroe
• Marion
• Randolph
• Perry
• Jefferson

Missouri

• St. Louis
• St. Louis City

References

References

1. (2021-12-17). "McClatchy {{!}} Markets".
2. Couch, Jeffry. (25 August 2023). "Belleville News-Democrat to change print days, delivery method as digital transition evolves".
3. (2021-06-22). "'60 Minutes' reflects on 1993 report on Belleville & East St. Louis".
4. (2007). "The Robert F. Kennedy Award of 2007".
5. Ronalds-Hannon, Eliza. (2020-02-13). "Newspaper Chain McClatchy Files for Bankruptcy Protection".
6. "Publisher McClatchy Co. Files For Bankruptcy, Disrupting 30 Newspapers". [[NPR]].
7. (13 February 2020). "Newspaper Publisher McClatchy Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy". The Wall Street Journal.