Independent Record

{{Short description|Daily newspaper based in Helena, Montana}} {{more citations needed|date=September 2012}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Independent Record | image = {{dark mode switch | frameless | frameless }} | caption = | type = Daily newspaper | format = Broadsheet | founded = August 2, 1867, as ''The Daily Herald'' and October 12, 1867, as ''The Weekly Independent'' | ceased_publication = | owner = Lee Enterprises | publisher = Bill Merrill | editor = Phil Drake | language = English | circulation = 14,083 Daily | circulation_date = 2023 | circulation_ref = <ref name="Lee Enterprises' 10-K annual filing">{{cite web|url=https://investors.lee.net/static-files/d97194ec-e9c5-4e1c-8c74-a05e37542331 |title=Form 10-K|author=Lee Enterprises |website=investors.lee.net |access-date=February 29, 2024}}</ref> | headquarters = Helena, Montana | publishing_country = United States | ISSN = 2326-9588 | eISSN = 2326-9596 | oclc = 11978496 | website = {{URL|helenair.com}} }}

The '''''Independent Record''''' (often abbreviated to '''''IR''''') is a daily newspaper printed and distributed in Helena, Montana. The newspaper is owned by Lee Enterprises.<ref>[http://www.lee.net/aboutlee/ "About Lee"]. Lee Enterprises. Retrieved November 12, 2011.</ref>

== History == thumb|upright=1.5| Early Helena newspapers included The ''Daily Independent'' and ''The Helena Weekly Independent''. The roots of the ''IR'' lie in two newspapers that were founded in 1867, ''The Daily Herald'' of Helena and ''The Weekly Independent'' of Deer Lodge.

''The Daily Herald'' started publishing in Helena on August 2, 1867.<ref>{{cite web |title=About The Daily herald. [volume] (Helena, M.T. [i.e. Mont.]) 1867-186? |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85053243/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}}</ref> ''The Weekly Independent'' started publishing in Deer Lodge on October 12, 1867,<ref>{{cite web |title=About The weekly independent. [volume] (Deer Lodge City, Mont.) 1867-1875 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84027525/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}}</ref> and then moved to Helena in March 1874,<ref>{{cite web |title=About The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025308/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}}</ref> and began publication as ''The Daily Independent'', and then, in 1875, as ''The Helena Independent''.<ref>{{cite web |title=About The Daily independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1874-1875 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85053100/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}}</ref>

In 1916, the ''Herald'' merged with ''The Montana Daily Record'', which was founded in August 1900.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 3, 1916 |title=Change in Name |work=The Great Falls Leader |location=Great Falls, Montana |pages=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About The Montana daily record. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1900-1916 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025307/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}}</ref> The new publication was renamed ''The Montana Record-Herald''.<ref>{{cite web |title=About The Montana record-herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1916-1943 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85053101/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}}</ref> Additionally, on November 22, 1943, another merger followed: this time with ''The Helena Independent'', to become the ''Independent Record''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 10, 1943 |title=Mont. -Record Herald, Helena Independent Are Consolidated |work=The Havre Daily News |pages=1 |agency=United Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About The independent-record. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1943-current |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85053105/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}}</ref>

After over thirty years of ownership by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, the ''IR'' was sold to Lee Enterprises in 1959.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 2, 1959 |title=Eight Montana Newspapers Bought by Lee Organization |work=Livingston Enterprise |pages=1}}</ref> The ''IR'' converted from hot metal to phototype in 1973, and in 1975, installed one of the first newsroom computer systems. In the summer of 2002, a new press plant was opened and housed in a new {{convert|30000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} printing and distribution center.

Starting July 11, 2023, the print edition of the newspaper will be reduced to three days a week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Also, the newspaper will transition from being delivered by a traditional newspaper delivery carrier to mail delivery by the U.S. Postal Service.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-06-11 |title=Your expanded Helena Independent Record coming soon |url=https://helenair.com/your-expanded-helena-independent-record-coming-soon/article_a6e0485d-95e3-5522-a455-dc1c3f6ad25e.html |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=The Independent Record |language=en}}</ref>

==See also== *Montana Free Press, an investigative journalism organization based in Helena, Montana

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website}} * {{LCCN8|sn85053105|chronicling=yes}}

Category:Newspapers published in Montana Category:Lee Enterprises publications Category:Helena, Montana Category:1867 establishments in Montana Territory Category:Daily newspapers published in the United States Category:Newspapers established in 1867