Brainerd Dispatch

Brainerd Dispatch
TypeDaily newspaper (except Saturday)
FormatPrinted Wednesdays and Sundays; E-paper Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
Owner(s)Forum Communications
PublisherPete Mohs
PresidentBill Marcil, Jr.
Editor-in-chiefMatt Erickson
Associate editorRenee Richardson
Sports editorJeremy Millsop
Photo editorSteve Kohls
Staff writers78 employees; 14 journalists, 2 photographers
FoundedDecember 22, 1881
LanguageEnglish
Headquarters506 James St.
Brainerd, MN 56401
CountryUnited States
Circulation5,886 (as of 2024)[1]
Sister newspapersPine and Lakes Echo Journal
OCLC number18528608
Websitebrainerddispatch.com

The Brainerd Dispatch is a daily morning newspaper published in Brainerd, Minnesota. The newspaper was founded on December 22, 1881, and became a daily paper in 1883. In April 2004, the Dispatch became a morning paper. In July 2020, the publication switched to twice-a-week printing and delivery. The paper is owned by Forum Communications. The paper is published by Pete Mohs.[2][3]

History

The paper was formerly owned by Stauffer Communications, which was acquired by Morris Communications in 1994.[4]

On December 26, 2013, Fargo, North Dakota based Forum Communications Company entered a deal with Morris to purchase several newspaper properties owned by Morris Communications including the Brainerd Dispatch. The deal was set to be finalized on January 1, 2014.[5]

On July 16, 2020, the Brainerd Dispatch newspaper did not roll off its printing presses for the first time in 137 years but was instead available to readers in a digital format.[6]

The printed paper continued its delivery Wednesdays and Sundays in the early morning hours for paid subscribers. But on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, its "e-paper" became the only way to view the publication's content, which still changes daily.[7]

In June 2024, the paper announced it will close its local printing facility and shift production to the Detroit Lakes area.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Minnesota Newspaper Directory 2024" (PDF). Minnesota Newspaper Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  2. ^ "Morris Communications, Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  3. ^ "Brainerd Dispatch". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  4. ^ "Morris Communications buys Stauffer Corporation". Rome News-Tribune. Augusta. Associated Press. July 27, 1994. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021 – via Google News.
  5. ^ "Morris Communications". inforum.com. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  6. ^ Perkins, Chelsey (July 15, 2020). "Reduced print schedule begins for Dispatch, daily publication via digital e-paper to continue". Brainerd Dispatch.
  7. ^ "A brave new (Digital) world for the Dispatch: How to view and use the features of our E-Paper". 3 July 2020.
  8. ^ Shea, Paul (2024-07-17). "Forum Communications Shifts Operations: Brainerd Printing Facility Closure". 98.1 - Minnesota's New Country. Retrieved 2024-07-28.

46°21′31″N 94°13′08″W / 46.358679°N 94.218973°W / 46.358679; -94.218973 (D: Brainerd Dispatch)