Star-News
Former Confederate Major William H. Bernard published the first issue of what would become StarNews on the 23rd of September 1867. He originally titled it the Wilmington Evening Star before switching to a morning schedule and renaming it the Wilmington Morning Star shortly after launch. The paper quickly established itself as an ardent advocate for white supremacy in its early years. This stance became most visible during the coverage of the Wilmington race riots of 1898. Bernard's vision shaped the publication's identity from its very inception.
R. W. Page purchased the Morning Star newspaper in 1927. Two years later he acquired the city's afternoon paper known as the Wilmington News-Dispatch. That afternoon edition was eventually shortened to simply the Wilmington News. By late 1929 both papers began running a combined Sunday edition under the name Star-News. Separate daily delivery of the Morning Star and the News ended on the 24th of April 2003. On that date they merged into a single seven-day publication called StarNews.
Page and his family maintained ownership until 1975 when The New York Times Company took control. The company held the title for over three decades until the 6th of January 2012. Halifax Media Group acquired the paper on that same date. In 2015 New Media Investment Group bought Halifax Media Group for $280 million. GateHouse Media then managed operations from 2015 through 2019. Gannett absorbed the combined entity after merging with New Media in 2019.
Hurricane Florence struck North Carolina in September 2018 causing severe damage to the newspaper's facilities. Staff moved operations first to a Hampton Inn hotel before relocating to the Harrelson Building. Some team members worked from their own homes during the crisis. The newsroom also utilized space at WWAY television station temporarily. Despite these disruptions the StarNews never stopped publishing throughout the storm event.
The paper reduced its printing schedule to six days starting in March 2022. This change eliminated the Saturday print edition entirely. By December 2023 management announced a shift away from carrier delivery systems. The Wilmington News now distributes copies via the U.S. Postal Service mail system instead of door-to-door carriers. These changes reflect broader trends affecting daily newspapers across the region.
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Common questions
When did William H. Bernard publish the first issue of StarNews?
William H. Bernard published the first issue of StarNews on the 23rd of September 1867.
What was the original name of the newspaper before it became StarNews?
The paper originally launched as the Wilmington Evening Star and later changed its name to the Wilmington Morning Star after switching to a morning schedule.
Who purchased the Morning Star newspaper in 1927?
R. W. Page purchased the Morning Star newspaper in 1927 and subsequently acquired the Wilmington News-Dispatch two years later.
On what date did the separate daily editions merge into StarNews?
Separate daily delivery of the Morning Star and the News ended on the 24th of April 2003 when they merged into a single seven-day publication called StarNews.
Which company acquired Halifax Media Group in 2015 for $280 million?
New Media Investment Group bought Halifax Media Group for $280 million in 2015 before GateHouse Media managed operations until Gannett absorbed the entity in 2019.
How did Hurricane Florence affect StarNews publishing schedules in 2022 and 2023?
Hurricane Florence caused severe damage in September 2018, but the paper reduced its printing schedule to six days starting in March 2022 and shifted distribution to the U.S. Postal Service mail system by December 2023.