| The Augusta Chronicle | |
| Type: | Daily newspaper |
| Format: | Broadsheet |
| Foundation: | 1785 (as Augusta Gazette) |
| Owners: | Gannett |
| Publisher: | William S. Morris III |
| Circulation: | 17,238 Daily 19,351 Sunday |
| Circulation Date: | 2018 |
| Circulation Ref: | [1] |
| Headquarters: | 725 Broad Street Augusta, GA, 30901 United States |
| Issn: | 0747-1343 |
The Augusta Chronicle is the daily newspaper of Augusta, Georgia, and is one of the oldest newspapers in the United States still in publication. The paper is known for its coverage of the Masters Tournament, which is played in Augusta.
The paper was founded as the weekly Augusta Gazette in 1785. In 1786, the paper was renamed The Georgia State Gazette. From 1789 to 1804, the paper was known as The Augusta Chronicle and Gazette of the State. Patrick Walsh, later a U.S. Senator, joined the editorial staff in 1866 and became owner in 1873.
In 1945, former bookkeeper William Morris, Jr. bought a controlling interest in the paper. This was the beginning of Morris Communications, headquartered in Augusta with the Chronicle as its flagship.
In addition to a daily online edition, the entire archives back to its founding have been made searchable on the Internet.
On 9 August 2017, it was announced that The Augusta Chronicle, along with Morris Communications' entire newspaper division and various periodicals, would be sold to GateHouse Media for $120 million in a deal expected to close on October 2. Stephen Wade and Billy Morris will retain their roles as president and publisher respectively. The Morris family will keep ownership of The Augusta Chronicle building and property in downtown Augusta.[2] The sale ended 232 years of local ownership, the last 72 of which had been under the Morris family.
Newspapers published by the Chronicle include The Columbia County News-Times, The Hampton County Guardian, The Jefferson News-Farmer, and the Sylvania Telephone.