DECLINE IN NEWSPAPER READERSHIP STOPS DAILY PAPER IN CHATTANOOGA

Chattanooga’s only daily newspaper will soon stop the presses and shift to an online-only format. The Chattanooga Times Free Press will stop delivering newspapers with the exception of the Sunday edition starting in 2022

They’re hoping to turn readers to iPads. The paper’s president says turning to iPads was the best way to avoid cutting staff and reducing pages.

A version of the Chattanooga Times Free Press has served the Chattanooga community since 1869. By mid-2022, readers won’t be able to receive it that way, due to a steep decline in newspaper advertising revenue nationwide resulting from a huge decline in newspaper readership. What once was a staple in the information distribution business has given way to internet news.  Most individuals get their news today from the internet serving up numerous online news services from local to national news.

The newspaper’s publisher has purchased thousands of iPads to give to subscribers who convert to a mostly digital format that will be available daily by 4:00am.