{{short description|Daily newspaper in Meriden, Connecticut, United States}} {{Multiple issues| {{primary sources|date=September 2018}} {{More citations needed|date=September 2014}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox newspaper | name = Record-Journal | image = File:Record-Journal Logo.png | caption = 140 Years of<br />''Record-Journal'' | type = Daily newspaper | format = Broadsheet | founded = 1867, as ''The Weekly Visitor'' | owners = Hearst Communications | headquarters = 500 South Broad Street<br />Meriden, Connecticut 06450<br />United States | circulation = 14,961 daily<br />15,979 Sunday | circulation_date = November 2013 | circulation_ref = <ref name="CircNov2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.verifiedaudit.com/reports.php|title=Circulation Report, November 2013|location=Larkspur, Calif.|publisher=Verified Audit Circulation|access-date=January 31, 2015|archive-date=February 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228114702/http://www.verifiedaudit.com/reports.php|url-status=live}}</ref> | publisher = Eliot C. White | website = {{URL|https://www.ctinsider.com/recordjournal/}} | oclc = 1333824778 }}
The '''''Record-Journal''''' is an American daily newspaper based in Meriden, Connecticut, that dates back to the years immediately following the American Civil War. It was owned by the '''Record-Journal Publishing Company''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=237841403|title=Terms of Service Violation|website=www.bloomberg.com|access-date=2022-09-01|archive-date=2018-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924070803/https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=237841403|url-status=live}}</ref> a family-owned business entity, until it was sold to Hearst Communications Connecticut Media Group in November 2023.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |last3= |date=2023-11-27 |title=Hearst CT Media to acquire Meriden Record-Journal |url=https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/hearst-ct-media-to-acquire-meriden-record-journal,246884 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Editor & Publisher |language=en}}</ref>
== History == The ''Record-Journal'' dates back to a weekly newspaper called the ''Weekly Visitor'' established in 1867.<ref name="record-journal-named-one-of-the-top-family-owned-businesses-in.html">record-journal-named-one-of-the-top-family-owned-businesses-in.html</ref> In 1892, E.E. Smith and Thomas Warnock bought it and converted it to a daily. Co-founder Thomas Warnock was editor of the paper for almost half a century. E.E. Smith was the first of four generations to lead the ''Record-Journal'' as publisher. E.E. Smith was followed by his son, Wayne C. Smith, who served as publisher until his death in 1966.<ref name="record-journal-named-one-of-the-top-family-owned-businesses-in.html" /> In 1977, ''The Morning Record'' and the ''Meriden Journal'' merged and became the ''Record-Journal''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/2000/05/26/publisher-battled-for-openness/ |title=Publisher Battled for Openness - tribunedigital-thecourant |access-date=2022-09-01 |archive-date=2018-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924074115/http://articles.courant.com/2000-05-26/news/0005261378_1_mr-white-journal-carter-h-white |url-status=live }}</ref> Carter White took over for his stepfather and was publisher until his retirement in 1988. Carter's son Eliot C. White was the ''Record-Journal'' president, and Elizabeth White, a member of the family's fifth generation, was Publisher and Executive Vice President until the sale to Hearst Connecticut Media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.myrecordjournal.com/contact-us/directory/|title=MyRecordJournal.com ||access-date=2022-09-01|archive-date=2022-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727132717/https://www.myrecordjournal.com/contact-us/directory/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In November 2023, the White family sold the ''Record-Journal'', along with seven weekly newspapers and its digital advertising agency, to Hearst Communications. The deal included ''The Cheshire Citizen'', ''The Southington-Plainville Citizen'', ''The Town Times,'' ''The Berlin Citizen'', ''The North Haven Citizen'' and ''The Cheshire Herald''. After the sale was finalized, Hearst offered full-time positions to about half of RJ Media Group’s staff.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mirmina |first=Austin |date=2023-12-30 |title=Hearst CT Media finalizes deal to acquire RJ Media Group in Meriden |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/hearst-connecticut-media-rj-media-meriden-sale-18581209.php |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=CT Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Expansion == During the first decade of the 21st century, the Record-Journal company doubled in size with seven acquisitions and seventeen start-ups, expanding into new markets and adding 100 people to its Rhode Island and Florida operations. By the middle of the decade, the ''Record-Journal''{{-'}}s daily publication comprised 45 percent of total business of the company. The year 2006 marked the company's 140th birthday, and found itself shifting again, this time embracing its online presence as Elizabeth White became new media director and led the launch of Myrecordjournal.com, the ''Record-Journal''{{-'}}s community news and advertising web site. The number of site visits subsequently became over 700,000 per month.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}}
The daily paper's circulation was 16,711 daily, 17,896 Sundays in 2011.<ref name="Circ2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.verifiedaudit.com/reports.php|title=Annual Audit Report, December 2011|location=Larkspur, Calif.|publisher=Verified Audit Circulation|access-date=April 30, 2012|archive-date=April 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427165301/http://www.verifiedaudit.com/reports.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2013–2014, circulation was 14,662 daily (last quarter, 2014) and 17,065 Sundays (2013).<ref name="Circ2014mix">{{cite web|url=http://www.verifiedaudit.com/reports.php|title=Audited annual 2013 circulation for Sundays, Audited last quarter 2014 circulation for daily|location=Larkspur, Calif.|publisher=Verified Audit Circulation|access-date=January 31, 2015|archive-date=February 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228114702/http://www.verifiedaudit.com/reports.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
In October 2015, the Record-Journal Publishing Co. moved from 11 Crown St. to a new headquarters at 500 S. Broad St. in Meriden. As part of the move, the company rebranded as RJ Media Group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myrecordjournal.com/news/latestnews/7521134-129/record-journal-moving-to-s-broad-st-citing-goal-to-stay.html|title=MERIDEN — The Record-Journal Publishing Co. will move its news and digital|first=Record-Journal Publishing|last=Co|website=www.myrecordjournal.com|access-date=2022-09-01|archive-date=2018-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924105830/http://www.myrecordjournal.com/news/latestnews/7521134-129/record-journal-moving-to-s-broad-st-citing-goal-to-stay.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In August 2018, the Record-Journal Publishing Co. sold Westerly, Rhode Island's The Westerly Sun, to the publishing group Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers.
==See also==
*''The Middletown Press'', 1878-founded newspaper in nearby Middletown
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|https://www.ctinsider.com/recordjournal/}} * [http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/20161021/printedition/310219915/record-journal-embraces-digital-age-amid-changing-media-landscape Record-Journal embraces digital age amid changing media landscape | Hartford Business Journal]
{{Hearst}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Record-Journal, The}} Category:Hearst Communications publications Category:Companies based in New Haven County, Connecticut Category:Newspapers published in Connecticut Category:Newspapers established in 1867 Category:Mass media in New Haven County, Connecticut Category:1867 establishments in Connecticut