{{short description|Newspaper in Waterbury, Connecticut}} {{Primary sources|date=November 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Republican-American | image = Republican-American Logo.png | caption = | type = Daily newspaper | format = Broadsheet | owners = Hearst Communications | founder = William J. Pape | publisher = William B. Pape II | editor = William J. Pape II | managing_editor = Anne Karolyi | assismaneditor = | cityeditor = | litchfieldcountyeditor = | nighteditor = | execsportseditor = | featureseditor = | assocfeatureseditor = | staffwriters = | founded = 1844 | language = English | circulation = | headquarters = 389 Meadow Street, Waterbury, Connecticut 06722-2090 | country = | ISSN = | website = {{URL|rep-am.com}} }}The '''''Republican-American''''' is a conservative-leaning newspaper based in Waterbury, Connecticut. It was established in 1990 through merger of two newspapers under the same ownership: '''''Waterbury American''''' and '''''Waterbury Republican'''''. The publication's origins date back to 1844. Hearst Connecticut Media group, a division of Hearst Communications, bought the publication from the Pape family on February 5, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-02-05 |title=Hearst Connecticut Media purchases Waterbury’s Republican-American newspaper |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/waterbury/article/hearst-connecticut-waterbury-republican-purchase-20147806.php |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=CT Insider |language=en}}</ref>

== Circulation == Three dozen communities in New Haven and Litchfield counties receive the newspaper, among them being: Greater Waterbury, the Naugatuck Valley, and Litchfield County. Besides Waterbury, it is sold in Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Canaan, Cheshire, Colebrook, Cornwall, Falls Village, Goshen, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Middlebury, Morris, Naugatuck, New Hartford, New Milford, North Canaan, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Roxbury, Salisbury, Seymour, Sharon, Southbury, Terryville, Thomaston, Torrington, Warren, Washington, Watertown, Winchester, Winsted, Wolcott, and Woodbury.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.rep-am.com/about-us/history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826060843/http://www.rep-am.com/about-us/history/ |archive-date=26 August 2016 |access-date=5 December 2022 |website=Republican-American}}</ref>

== History == The ''Republican-American'' is a direct descendant of two other newspapers which went through a series of ownership and content changes since the mid-1800s.<ref name=":6" />{{efn|The History section is fully derived from the Republican-American website's History page}}

The ''Waterbury American'' started in 1844 as a weekly paper published by Josiah Giles. Twenty-two years later, in 1866, it started publication as a daily newspaper.

The ''Waterbury Republican'' started in 1881 as a weekly paper published by John Henry Morrow. By 1884, it had transitioned to a daily newspaper. The paper changed hands in 1901 when William Jamieson Pape and William M. Lathrop purchased it together.

Pape became the sole owner of the ''Waterbury Republican'' in 1910, and in 1922 purchased the ''Waterbury American''. Ownership of both papers was retained in the Pape family for a century, with the decision to merge them to form the ''Republican-American'' coming in 1990.

In December 2024, the Pape family entered into negotiations to sell the paper to Hearst Communications.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-12-19 |title=Hearst Connecticut Media Group negotiating purchase of Republican-American newspaper in Waterbury |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/hearst-connecticut-waterbury-republican-american-19991395.php |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=CT Insider |language=en}}</ref> The sale was closed on Feb. 5, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Larson |first=Andrew |date=February 3, 2025 |title=Hearst CT set to close on Republican-American sale |url=https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/hearst-ct-set-to-close-on-republican-american-sale |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Hartford Business Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Editorial stance == The ''Republican-American'' describes itself as having a socially and fiscally conservative editorial stance.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2015-05-04 |title=History |url=https://www.rep-am.com/about-us/history/ |access-date=2019-12-02 |website=Republican-American |language=en-US}}</ref> It advocates what it considers to be pro-business government policies, such as tax cuts and regulatory reform.<ref name=":0" /> The ''Republican-American'' claims that it is "quick to blow the whistle on what it views as wasteful use of tax dollars, as well as what it sees as unnecessary growth of local, state or federal government".<ref name=":0" /> The newspaper is a frequent critic of the demands of organized labor, especially public-employee unions, arguing they compel governments and businesses to spend beyond their means.<ref name=":0" />

The paper advocates for a more interventionist approach to foreign policy, asserting that "if the U.S. is not quick to forcefully denounce and, if necessary, take action against, aggressive and anti-democratic actions by anti-American regimes and groups, America’s enemies will be emboldened".<ref name=":0" />

Owing to its editorial stance, the ''Republican-American'' typically endorses Republican candidates for office.<ref name=":0" /> The paper endorsed Bob Stefanowski in the 2022 and 2018 Connecticut gubernatorial elections.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cloutier |first=Bill |title=We endorse Mr. Stefanowski for governor |url=https://www.rep-am.com/opinion/editorials/2022/10/29/we-endorse-mr-stefanowski-for-governor/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Republican-American |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-05 |title=We endorse: Stefanowski for governor |url=https://www.rep-am.com/opinion/editorials/2018/11/03/we-endorse-stefanowski-for-governor/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105063631/http://www.rep-am.com/opinion/editorials/2018/11/03/we-endorse-stefanowski-for-governor/ |archive-date=2018-11-05 |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Republican-American}}</ref>

The ''Republican-American'' has often labeled Democratic officials and candidates as communists or socialists,<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> and the paper's editorial board has been criticized by newspaper trade publication ''Editor & Publisher'' for "McCarthyism" and "red-baiting".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Greg |date=2006-08-15 |title=A Connecticut Yankee in Joe Stalin's Court: Painting Ned Lamont 'Red' |url=https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/a-connecticut-yankee-in-joe-stalins-court-painting-ned-lamont-red,80140 |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Editor & Publisher |language=en}}</ref> The editorial board of the ''Republican-American'' has accused former Senator Chris Dodd of being "chief apologist for the communist tyrants",<ref name=":1">{{cite news | title=A case of nerves – for Sen. Dodd | work=Republican-American | date=August 10, 2006 | pages=6F}}</ref> Senate candidate Ned Lamont of being a Stalinist,<ref name=":2">{{cite news | title=Ned Lamont's True Colors | work=Republican American | date=August 13, 2006 }}</ref> and claimed "Marxists-Socialists" control the Democratic Party.<ref name=":3">Editorial, ''Republican-American'' (Waterbury, Conn.) – April 19, 2006</ref>

The paper's editorial board attracted widescale attention and condemnation after publishing a piece titled "Is New Orleans Worth Reclaiming?", following the impact of Hurricane Katrina.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2005-09-06 |title=Editorial: Yes, we're worth it |url=https://www.nola.com/newslogs/tporleans/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tporleans/archives/2005_09.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050907041414/https://www.nola.com/newslogs/tporleans/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tporleans/archives/2005_09.html |archive-date=2005-09-07 |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=The New Orleans Times-Picayune}}</ref>

== Controversies == The newspaper trade publication ''Editor & Publisher'' heavily criticized the ''Republican-American'' in an August 2006 piece.<ref name=":4" /> The publication highlighted an editorial the ''Republican-American'' wrote on then-candidate for U.S. Senate Ned Lamont, which called Lamont and his family communists.<ref name=":4" /> ''Editor & Publisher'' rebuked the piece for being "rife with errors", including calling famous American financier J.P. Morgan "the sugar daddy for the American Communist Party and other extreme left-wing organizations".<ref name=":4" />

The ''Republican-American'' faced nationwide scorn for August 2005 editorial, "Is New Orleans Worth Reclaiming?", which called for the abandonment of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.<ref name=":4" /> The ''New Orleans Times-Picayune'' responded to the ''Republican-American'' in an editorial titled "Yes, We're Worth It", labeling the paper "heartless" and asking "How dare they?".<ref name=":5" />

==References== {{reflist}}

=== Notes === {{notelist}}

==External links== * {{official website|http://www.rep-am.com/}} {{Waterbury, Connecticut}} {{PulitzerPrize PublicService 1926–1950}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Republican-American}} Category:Waterbury, Connecticut Category:Newspapers published in Connecticut Category:Pulitzer Prize–winning newspapers Category:Mass media in New Haven County, Connecticut Category:Newspapers established in 1844 Category:1844 establishments in Connecticut Category:Newspapers established in 1881 Category:1881 establishments in Connecticut Category:Pulitzer Prize for Public Service winners