Wilmington News Journal's Printed Newspaper is Now 'The Connector'

Elizabeth Huber & Ryan Carter

On August 8, 2025, the Wilmington News Journal (WNJ) announced its printed newspaper would merge with the Washington Court House 'Record-Herald' and the Hillsboro 'Times Gazette' to become 'The Connector.' The three news outlets will still maintain their own unique online websites. Elizabeth Huber, Media Sales Director, stated, "The only thing that really is new is that Clinton County subscribers also get to read Fayette and Highland County news... A lot of the news crosses the lines anyway, so you get more." Prior to the change, the WNJ's printed newspaper was ten pages. It is now 32 pages, adding coverage of ten more schools and popular elements from the other newspapers, like a cooking column. With the rise in print costs, Elizabeth stated, "Raising the price of the paper and keeping it at the ten pages doesn't make more sense than combining the papers, keeping the cost the same, and having more product." She stated that the change has received positive feedback, and has even resulted in new subscribers.

The WNJ started in 1838, originally printing two newspapers a day before changing to one paper published Tuesday through Saturday for many years. In 2023, their parent company, AIM Media, reduced their printed newspapers to twice a week. Around this time, the WNJ lost two long-term employees to retirement, and was operating with only one journalist. However, within the past year, the WNJ has increased their coverage in Clinton County with three journalists, and is using their website to post stories as they happen.

In addition to providing local news, the WNJ participates in local programs to encourage youth involvement in media. Through the 'Newspapers In Education' program, they provide newspapers to local teachers. They also manage the "logistics" of Wilmington High School's student newspaper by printing and delivering it to the school free of cost.

When discussing the importance of communities having a local paper, Ryan Carter, Managing Editor, stated, "The community would lose a lot without a local newspaper... Somebody once told me that a newspaper is kind of like a mirror to the community, you might like certain things that you see... or you might not... That's what we try to be, a mirror of our community."

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