Introduction to Louisiana News Media.
Louisiana is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States that was established to the union as the 18th state. With a population of 4,648,794 as of 2019, Louisiana is the 25th populated state in the US and a significant market to Louisiana newspapers & news websites.
History of Louisiana Newspapers
Being added to the United States of America through a French settlement in the early 1700s, Louisiana saw the first-ever newspaper in the French language — Moniteur de la Louisiane. The French language daily started publishing in New Orleans on March 3, 1794. Within the next years, Moniteur de la Louisiane had become the official mouthpiece of the ruling government in Louisiana. The print edition of Moniteur de la Louisiane was available until the death of the publisher in July 1814.
Louisiana’s First English Newspaper
Union: New Orleans Advertiser and Price Current was the first English language newspaper in Louisiana. James Lyon, a native of the US state of Vermont, started publishing Union: New Orleans Advertiser and Price Current on December 13, 1803. Louisiana’s third newspaper — Le Telegraphe et le Commercial Advertiser — came only a day after Union: New Orleans Advertiser and Price Current. It was initially a French-language publication but started publishing in both English and French language, just like many other Louisiana newspapers in the time of the Civil War.
Now that we have discussed in brief the history of Louisiana newspapers, let’s have a look at the top newspapers & news websites that are currently published in the state.
The Advocate
The Advocate is a daily newspaper in Louisiana owned by Georges media. Established in 1925, the currency has a daily circulation of 98,000 copies and 125,000 copies on Sundays and is the largest newspaper in the state in terms of circulation. The paper is available in both print & online and they both primarily caters to the residents of Baton Rouge & southern Louisiana.
History of The Advocate
Though the paper as seen today was established in 1925, it’s history can be traced back to the erstwhile newspaper Democratic Advocate which first hit the newsstands in 1842. Democratic Advocate merged with Louisiana Capitolian forming the Weekly Advocate.
Over the years, the Weekly Advocate underwent a series of mergers, acquisitions & name changes until it was renamed to The Advocate. As of 2021, the paper is owned by Georges media.
What do they publish?
1. A daily printed edition of the newspaper that primarily caters to the residents of Baton Rouge & southern Louisiana.
2. An online news website with dedicated sections for news, sports, latest news, headlines, opinion, Entertainment, classifieds, jobs, and more.
3. An e-edition of the paper, the access to which is restricted to paid subscribers.
Apart from these, The Advocate also has a strong presence on Facebook & Twitter. Readers can also follow these handles for regular updates.
Gambit
Gambit is a free alternative weekly newspaper in Louisiana owned by Georges media. Established in 1980 the paper currently circulated across 400 locations in the New Orleans metro area. Being an alternative weekly publication, the paper covers news and updates on local politics, news, food and drink, arts, music, film, events, environmental issues, and more.
What do they publish?
1. A daily newspaper that is circulated in 400 locations across New Orleans. As per the readership survey of 2013, the paper had a circulation of 36,000 copies.
2. An online news website that is regularly updated with the latest news and updates. There are dedicated sections on the website for news, events, music, film, top stories, and more.
3. An e-edition of the newspaper that can be accessed for free from the paper’s official website.
The Times-Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate
The Times-Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate is a daily newspaper in New Orleans, Louisiana catering to the readers across New Orleans. The paper was established in 1837 and is currently owned by Georges Media Group.
History
Though the paper as seen today was established in 2019 following the merger of The Times-Picayune & The Advocate, the history of the paper dates back to 1837. The Picayune, the predecessor of the paper first hit the newsstands in 1837 & was quick to gain popularity. In 1914 the paper merged with its rival, the New Orleans Times-Democrat to form The Times Picayune.
Over the years the paper has undergone a series of mergers & acquisitions until it was renamed The Times-Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate and was acquired by Georges Media Group.
What do they publish?
1.A daily printed edition of the paper that is circulated across New Orleans.
2. An online news website with dedicated sections for entertainment news, opinion, music, and more.
Other than these, they also have an online news portal exclusively covering the news and updates from Tammany Parish, Slidell, Covington, Mandeville, Folsom, Abita Springs Louisiana, and more.
The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate Online
The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate ePaper
The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate Android App
The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate iOS App
Greater Baton Rouge Business Report
The Greater Baton Rouge Business Report is a weekly magazine catering to the business community in Louisiana. The magazine was first launched in 1982 and has since been catering to the residents of Baton Rouge. As of 2021, the magazine is owned by Louisiana Business Inc.
Apart from the printed edition of the magazine, they also publish an online news website with dedicated sections for business, politics, opinion, real estate, events, guides, and more. They also have an active presence on Facebook & Twitter.
The Greater Baton Rouge Business Report Online
The Shreveport Times
The Shreveport Times is a daily newspaper in Louisiana owned by Gannet. Established in 1871 the paper is currently circulated in 12 parishes in Northwest Louisiana and three counties in East Texas. Since its inception in 1871, the paper has been covering news & updates on issues affecting the Shreveport-Bossier market, investigative reporting, community news, arts and entertainment, government, education, sports, business, and more.
Today apart from the printed edition of the paper they also publish an online news website.
The Daily Advertiser
The Daily Advertiser is a daily newspaper in Louisiana owned by Australian Community Media. The paper was first established in 1868 as The Wagga Wagga Advertiser. Over the years, the paper has undergone a series of mergers and acquisitions until it was renamed The Daily Advertiser.
Apart from the daily printed edition, they also publish an online news website with dedicated sections for news, sports, latest news, and more.
The News-Star
The News-Star is a daily newspaper in Louisiana owned by Gannet and catering to the residents of Monroe and northeastern Louisiana. The paper was established in 1890 as the Monroe Evening News and over the years underwent several mergers and acquisitions before becoming The News-Star.
The paper also has an active presence on the web through its online news website. There are dedicated sections on the website for news, sports, features, opinion, obituaries, and more. While most contents on the website are available for free, access to e-edition is restricted to paid subscribers.
New Orleans City Business
New Orleans City Business is a bi-weekly newspaper In Louisiana catering to the residents in the metropolitan New Orleans area, including the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The paper was established in 1980 and is currently owned by BridgeTower Media. Apart from the bi-weekly printed edition, they also publish an online news website that is regularly updated with the latest news & information.
New Orleans City Business Online
American Press
American Press is a daily newspaper in Louisiana primarily catering to the residents of Southwest Louisiana. Though the paper as we see it was established only in 1998, its history can be traced back to its predecessors The Daily American and The Lake Charles Daily Press which merged to form the American Press.
Daily Reveille
The Daily Reveille is a student newspaper published by the students at the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. It is a weekly publication and is estimated to have a circulation of 6,000 copies. Apart from the weekly printed edition, they also publish an online news website.
The Houma Courier
The Houma Courier is a daily newspaper in Louisiana catering to the residents of Terrebonne Parish. It was established in 1878 and is currently owned by Gannet. Apart from the daily printed edition, the paper also has a strong presence on the web & social media. They also publish an e-edition that can be accessed by paid subscribers from their website.
The Daily Comet
The Daily Comet is a daily newspaper in Louisiana catering to the residents of Thibodaux, Lafourche, Assumption, the west bank of St. James and the northern part of Terrebonne parishes. The paper was established in `1889 as the Lafourche Comet and is currently owned by Gannet. The Daily Comet also has a strong online presence & publishes an e-edition.
Daily Iberian
Daily Iberian is a daily newspaper in Louisiana owned by Wick communication. The paper is available in both print and online.
The Town Talk
The Town Talk is a daily newspaper in Louisiana primarily catering to the residents of Central Louisiana. The paper was established in 1883 and it today has a daily circulation of 19,500 copies and 27,500 copies on Sundays. Apart from the printed edition of the paper, they also publish an online news website and an e-edition.
Conclusion
The newspapers & news websites mentioned in this article are the top ones that are currently in circulation in Louisiana. As of 2021, 112 newspapers are currently circulated in the state. Out of the 112, the New Orleans Advocate is the largest newspaper in terms of circulation and Daily Iberian is the smallest.
Like the other states in the US, the newspapers in Louisiana are struggling. According to the latest reports, the circulation of newspapers in Louisiana has decreased by over 15 million. Apart from the steep decline in revenue from circulation, the revenue from advertisements too has touched an all-time low.
In a desperate attempt to stay afloat, while the small-time newspapers in Louisiana are merging with others or shifting to digital publication, the lesser fortunate newspapers are winding off their business putting the future of local journalism in Louisiana at stake.
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