The Bladen Journal Explained

Bladen Journal
Type:Biweekly newspaper
Owners:Champion Media
Publisher:Denise Ward
Chiefeditor:Sara Fox
Staff:Alex Brooks
Language:English
Headquarters:109 N Pine Street, Suite B2, Elizabethtown, NC
Circulation:4,400
Oclc:5884408

The Bladen Journal is a bi-weekly newspaper, published in Elizabethtown, North Carolina, United States. The paper caters to residents of Bladen County. The paper is published each Tuesday and Friday.[1]

History

In 1898 a daily news bulletin titled The Bladen Express began being published in Clarkton, North Carolina. In 1911 the paper changed its name to The Bladen Journal. About 16 years later the publication relocated to Elizabethtown, North Carolina.[2]

In 1929 Jessie Lee Sugg McCulloch became editor of The Bladen Journal, thus becoming one of the first women in North Carolina to edit a newspaper. She served in the role until 1974.[2] Alan Wooten was named editor in July 2018, and Sara Fox took over in September 2022. In 2023, Fox added a Spanish section to the Bladen Journal website and physical newspaper to serve the Spanish-speaking community in Bladen County.[3]

The paper has won some awards from the North Carolina Press Association, including first place in sports coverage (W. Curt Vincent, reporting) and religion & faith reporting (Chrysta Carroll) in 2016 in the "Community newspapers under 3,500 circulation" category.[4]

The Journal first began publishing in 1898 as The Clarkton Express.[5] and was given its current name in 1902.[6] The Journal has had multiple owners including Community Newspaper Holdings,[7] Heartland Publications,[8] and Civitas Media. Civitas Media sold its properties in the Carolinas to Champion Media in 2017.[9] [10]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Editor & Publisher DataBook. 2018. 285. Weeklies.
  2. News: Thompson. Bill. Beast of Bladenboro to Hurricane Matthew, Bladen County's newspaper tells stories of its corner of eastern North Carolina.. Business, North Carolina. 36. 12. December 2016.
  3. Web site: Taking the reins. Carroll. Chrysta. 2018-07-26. Bladen Journal. en-US. 2019-07-05.
  4. Web site: News/ Editorial/ Photography Awards. 2016. July 5, 2019.
  5. News: The Bladen journal.. Chronicling America (U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present). 2019-07-05.
  6. May 18, 1940. Bladen Journal Serves County. News and Observer. Newsbank.
  7. May 2003. Regional Report / Eastern. Business North Carolina. 23. 7. 16. EBSCO.
  8. News: Regional Report / Eastern. June 2004. Business North Carolina. 6. 24. 14.
  9. Web site: Champion Media has acquired the North Carolina and South Carolina print and digital and local assets of Civitas Media. August 2017. Issuu. Editor & Publisher. en. 2019-07-05.
  10. Web site: Champion Media purchases Bladen Journal, others. 2017-06-15. Bladen Journal. en-US. 2019-07-05.