{{Short description|Daily broadsheet newspaper in Texas}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Austin American-Statesman | logo = Austin American-Statesman (2019-10-31).svg | image = Front_page_of_the_Austin_American-Statesman,_May_30,_2024.png | caption = Front page of the ''Austin American-Statesman'', May 30, 2024 | type = Daily newspaper | format = Broadsheet | founded = {{start date and age|1871}} (as the ''Democratic Statesman'') | owners = Hearst Communications | headquarters = 8000 Metropolis Drive Building A. STE. 100<br />Austin, Texas 78744 | circulation = 17,000 Digital Subscribers <ref>{{cite news |title=Cox sells Austin American-Statesman to GateHouse Media |url=https://apnews.com/national-national-general-news-da691a6a4e484a0ea59d00ea3db74de6 |access-date=December 6, 2025 |publisher=AP News |date=March 6, 2018}}</ref> <br /> {{unbulleted list|26,455&nbsp;Daily|33,699&nbsp;Sunday}} | circulation_date = 2022 | circulation_ref = <ref name="Gannet's 10-K annual filing">{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1579684/000157968423000014/gci-20221231.htm |title=Form 10-K|author=Gannett |website=Securities & Exchange Commission |access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref> | ISSN = 1553-8451 | website = {{URL|http://www.statesman.com/}} }} The '''''Austin American-Statesman''''' is the major daily newspaper for Austin, the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is owned by Hearst Communications. The distribution of the following ''The New York Times'', ''The Washington Post'', ''Associated Press'', and ''USA TODAY'' international and national news, but also incorporates Central Texas coverage, especially in political reporting. The paper covers the area's music scene, especially the annual South by Southwest Music Festival, and co-sponsors Austin events such as the Capital 10K, one of the largest 10K runs in the U.S., and the Season for Caring charity campaign. In the Austin market, the ''Statesman'' competes with the ''Austin Chronicle'', an alternative weekly.

==Circulation== In 2009, the ''Austin American-Statesman'' ranked 60th in circulation among daily newspapers, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/10302006/news/regionalnews/circulation.htm |title=Post Beats News |work=New York Post |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511193922/http://www.nypost.com/seven/10302006/news/regionalnews/circulation.htm |archive-date=May 11, 2008 }}</ref> Figures from Scarborough Research show the ''Statesman'' — in print and online – reaches 68% of Central Texans in an average week.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scarborough.com/press_releases/Scarborough%20Newspaper%20Audience%20Ratings%20Report%20FINAL%20April%202007%20links.pdf |title= Consumer Insight Solutions|website=www.scarborough.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407021552/http://www.scarborough.com/press_releases/Scarborough%20Newspaper%20Audience%20Ratings%20Report%20FINAL%20April%202007%20links.pdf |archive-date=April 7, 2008}}</ref>

Following a national trend among daily newspapers, the ''Statesman'' has seen drastic circulation declines in recent years. Austin is one of America's most internet-connected cities, though not ranked in the 25 largest "connected" cities, and in a related trend, the ''Statesman's'' daily circulation ranks among those cities seeing drops of 5% or more in recent reports.<ref name="EdPubl-2007-04-25">{{cite web |url=http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003576374 |title=FAS-FAX Preview: Circ Numbers To Take Another Big Hit |first=Jennifer |last=Saba |publisher=Editor & Publisher |date=April 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427051014/http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003576374 |archive-date=2007-04-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> As compared to a U.S. national decline of 2.1%, the ''Statesman's'' daily circulation in the most recent six-month reporting period fell 5.6% to 173,527. Its Sunday circulation fell 5.5% to 215,984. Austin is the 11th-largest city (and the 35th-largest metropolitan area) in the U.S.

==Politics== ''The Statesman'' endorsed George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections,<ref name=huffington>{{cite news |title=Newspapers That Backed Bush Shift To Obama |last=Weiner |first=Rachel |work=The Huffington Post |date=October 17, 2008 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/17/conservative-talk-radio-h_n_135684.html |access-date=August 4, 2009}}</ref> and Republican governor Rick Perry along with every other Republican incumbent in 2006.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} In the 2008 presidential election, however, the paper endorsed Barack Obama.<ref name=huffington /> The ''Statesman'' also provides coverage of Libertarian Party and Green Party matters.

==History== Founded as the triweekly<ref>Once every three weeks.</ref> ''Democratic Statesman'' in 1871, the newspaper was originally allied with the state Democratic party during Reconstruction. It began daily publication as a morning paper in 1873. After absorbing the ''Austin Tribune'' in 1914, it published as the afternoon ''Austin Statesman and Tribune'', then became an evening paper and changed its name to the ''Austin Evening Statesman'' in 1916.<ref name="handbook">{{cite web |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/eea11 |title=Austin American-Statesman |last1=Bishop |first1=Curtis |last2=Schroeter |first2=R. L. |work=Handbook of Texas Online |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |access-date=July 5, 2012 |ref=handbook}}</ref>

A rival paper, the morning ''Austin American'', began in 1914. Waco-based newspapermen Charles E. Marsh and E.S. Fentress bought the ''American'' in 1919 and the ''Evening Statesman'' in 1924. Merged under one company, the morning and evening papers published separately during the week and combined for a Sunday ''Austin American Statesman'' edition. The company continued separate titles until 1973, when all products became the ''American-Statesman'', with four editions daily.<ref name="handbook"/>

Cox Enterprises acquired the ''Statesman'' when it bought the Waco newspaper company in 1976. In 1987, the ''Statesman'' moved to morning-only publication.<ref name="handbook"/> In 2008, Cox put the ''Statesman'' up for sale with most of its other newspaper holdings to pay down debt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/08/11/daily67.html|title=Cox to sell off several newspapers, Valpak operations|work=Atlanta Business Chronicle|access-date=November 18, 2014}}</ref> A year later, the company pulled the paper off the market, citing a lack of suitable offers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/austin-newspaper-idUSN0644255920090806|title=Cox won't sell Austin American-Statesman newspaper|work=Reuters|date=August 6, 2009|access-date=November 18, 2014}}</ref>

The newspaper was part of the subsidiary Cox Media Group, which joined the corporation's television, radio, and newspaper assets under one umbrella in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coxenterprises.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=26244&item=68292|title=Cox Enterprises Announces New Business Organization: Cox Media Group|publisher=Coxenterprises.mediaroom.com|access-date=November 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129032109/http://coxenterprises.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=26244&item=68292|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The ''Statesman'' was named Texas Associated Press Managing Editors' Newspaper of the Year in 2013, 2014, and 2016,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/american-statesman-named-texas-top-newspaper/Msjes1SStcOz5jY12PEt2L/|title=American-Statesman named Texas' top newspaper}}</ref> besting Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.txapme.com/2015/03/31/2014-texas-apme-awards-list/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403022544/http://www.txapme.com/2015/03/31/2014-texas-apme-awards-list/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 3, 2015|title=2014 Texas APME Awards List|access-date=December 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tapmecontest.org/winners/|title=2015 Texas APME Awards List|access-date=December 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.txapme.com/2017/03/27/2016-texas-apme-awards-list/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830200837/http://www.txapme.com/2017/03/27/2016-texas-apme-awards-list/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 30, 2017|title=2016 Texas APME Awards List|access-date=March 27, 2017}}</ref>

In 2015, ''¡Ahora Sí!'' was named the best Spanish-language newspaper in the country for its circulation size by the National Association of Hispanic Publishers.<ref>[http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/statesmans-ahora-si-publication-wins-multiple-jose/nn8dQ/ Statesman’s ¡Ahora Sí! publication wins multiple José Marti Awards] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025143735/http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/statesmans-ahora-si-publication-wins-multiple-jose/nn8dQ/ |date=25 October 2015}}</ref>

On March 6, 2018, the sale of the ''Statesman'' to GateHouse Media from Cox Media Group was announced.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/technology/statesman-being-sold-gatehouse-deal/eXDIH4dUhTu8972KfjfVRK/|title=American-Statesman being sold to GateHouse in $47.5M deal}}</ref> Upon taking over in April, GateHouse said the ''Statesman'' would be the "flagship" of the expanding chain, noting its existing 240-employee design and editing hub in Austin.<ref>{{cite news|title=Statesman's new owner says Austin will be 'a flagship' for media group|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|author1=Shonda Novak|author2=Brian Davis|date=April 3, 2018|access-date=May 6, 2018|url=https://www.statesman.com/business/statesman-new-owner-says-austin-will-flagship-for-media-group/pgxIUrf2Ep8zFxXiNHLvrM/}}</ref>

In August 2019, New Media Investment Group, the parent entity of GateHouse Media, announced it had agreed to buy Gannett (the longtime parent company of ''USA Today'', the ''Arizona Republic'', the ''Detroit Free Press'', and several other newspapers),<ref>{{cite news|last=Darcy|first=Oliver|date=August 5, 2019|title=USA Today owner Gannett merges with GateHouse Media to form massive newspaper company|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/05/media/gannett-gatehouse-merger/index.html|access-date=2020-12-11|website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2019-08-05|title=New Media Investment Group to Acquire Gannett|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190805005547/en/New-Media-Investment-Group-to-Acquire-Gannett|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}</ref> and operations would continue under the Gannett rather than GateHouse name, at the Gannett headquarters outside Washington, DC, but under New Media's CEO. The acquisition of Gannett by New Media Investment Group was completed on November 19, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|date=2019-11-19|title=New Media and Gannett Complete Merger, Creating Leading U.S. Print and Digital News Organization|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191119005997/en/New-Media-and-Gannett-Complete-Merger-Creating-Leading-U.S.-Print-and-Digital-News-Organization|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}</ref> Gannett sold the ''Austin American-Statesman'' in February 2025 to Hearst Communications.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=February 19, 2025 |title=Hearst to purchase Austin American-Statesman from Gannett, expanding footprint in Texas |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2025/02/19/hearst-austin-american-statesman-gannett-usa-today-network-purchase-buy/79191401007/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Austin American-Statesman |language=en-US}}</ref>

In March 2022, ''The'' ''Statesman'' moved to a six-day printing schedule, eliminating its printed Saturday edition.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Austin American-Statesman to end Saturday print delivery, will offer enhanced e-Editions|url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2022/01/12/austin-american-statesman-cease-saturday-print-delivery/9185701002/|website=Austin American-Statesman|date=2022-01-12|access-date=2025-12-01|language=en|first=American-Statesman|last=staff}}</ref>

==Community weeklies==

The ''Austin American-Statesman'' publishes these community weeklies:<ref>{{cite web| title = Austin Community Newspaper: Local Advertising| work = Statesman Media| access-date = 2020-12-10| url = https://www.statesmanmedia.com/print-advertising/newspaper-advertising/austin-community-newspaper/}}</ref> *''The Bastrop Advertiser'' *''Smithville Times'' *''Westlake Picayune'' *''Lake Travis View'' *''Round Rock Leader'' *''Pflugerville Pflag''

==See also== {{Portal|Journalism}} * List of newspapers in Texas

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.statesman.com/ Statesman.com] *[http://www.hookem.com/ Hookem.com -- for all things Longhorns] *[https://www.facebook.com/statesman/ Statesman on Facebook] *[https://twitter.com/statesman/ Statesman on Twitter]

{{Hearst}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Hearst Communications publications Category:Newspapers published in Austin, Texas Category:Newspapers established in 1871 Category:1871 establishments in Texas Category:Daily newspapers published in Texas