History of Bangor Daily News in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: August 4, 2025

The Bangor Daily News is a newspaper that serves a large area of central and eastern Maine. It is published six days a week in Bangor, Maine, providing news coverage for the region.

1900: Merged with Bangor Whig & Courier

In 1900, the Bangor Daily News merged with the Bangor Whig & Courier, resulting in two newspapers in the city: the Bangor Daily News and the Bangor Daily Commercial.

1929: Fred Jordan Takes Control

In 1929, Fred Jordan, Towle's son-in-law, took control of the Bangor Daily News.

1947: Lillis Towle Jordan Becomes Publisher

Following Fred Jordan's death in 1947, his widow Lillis Towle Jordan became the publisher of the Bangor Daily News.

1949: Bangor Daily Commercial Ceased Publication

The Bangor Daily Commercial ceased publication in 1949, leaving the Bangor Daily News as the sole newspaper.

1955: Richard K. Warren Becomes Publisher

In 1955, Richard K. Warren became publisher and remained in that role until 1984, during which time the newspaper's circulation significantly increased.

1962: Missed Delivery Due to Blizzard

On New Year's Eve 1962, the Bangor Daily News missed its only day of delivery due to a massive blizzard that dumped over three feet of snow on Bangor, creating 20-foot snowdrifts, preventing delivery trucks from moving.

1964: Endorsement of Barry Goldwater

In the 1964 presidential election, the Bangor Daily News endorsed Republican candidate Barry Goldwater.

1974: Endorsement of James B. Longley

In the 1974 Maine gubernatorial election, the Bangor Daily News endorsed independent candidate James B. Longley.

1982: Reporter Convicted for Violating Publication Ban

In 1982, Beurmond Banville, a reporter for the Bangor Daily News, was convicted in a Canadian court for violating a publication ban after writing about a pretrial hearing in a murder case in New Brunswick, Canada, and was fined $160.

1983: Conviction Upheld, Absolute Discharge Granted

In 1983, the Court of Appeal of New Brunswick upheld Beurmond Banville's conviction but granted him an absolute discharge, meaning he did not have a Canadian criminal record.

1984: Richard J. Warren Becomes Editor

In 1984, Richard J. Warren succeeded his father as editor of the Bangor Daily News.

1984: Richard K. Warren's Tenure Ends

In 1984, Richard K. Warren's tenure as publisher ended, after circulation dramatically increased during his time.

1993: Policy Prohibiting Tobacco Advertising

As of 1993, the Bangor Daily News was one of fewer than twenty American newspapers that declined to accept ads for tobacco products.

1997: Launched Web Presence

In 1997, the Bangor Daily News launched its Web presence at bangornews.com.

2000: Endorsement of George W. Bush

In the 2000 presidential election, BDN's editorial board endorsed Republican George W. Bush.

2001: Internet Service Provider

From 1997 to 2001, BDN acted as an Internet service provider, partnering with local telecommunications companies to provide dial-up internet access in Maine.

2004: Endorsement of John Kerry

In the 2004 presidential election, BDN endorsed Democrat John Kerry over George W. Bush.

2006: Maine Supreme Judicial Court Affirms Ruling

In 2006, The Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously affirmed the ruling that the Bangor Daily News and The Quoddy Tides were not entitled to the records of closed-door tribal councils of the Passamaquoddy Tribe.

2008: Endorsements for 2008 Elections

In 2008, BDN endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president, Republican Susan Collins for Senate, and Democrats Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree for Maine's congressional seats.

2008: Todd Benoit Appointed Director of New Media

In 2008, Todd Benoit, the paper's editorial page director, was appointed BDN's director of new media.

2011: Partnership with The Maine Campus

In 2011, BDN established a partnership with The Maine Campus, the independent student newspaper at the University of Maine, through the BDN media partners program.

2011: Expanded Coverage and New Appointments

In 2011, BDN hired an additional reporter to cover Greater Portland and reassigned another reporter to cover the southern mid-coast of Maine. Susan Young was named "managing editor for investigative reporting and new initiatives" and Tom Groening was appointed as editorial-page editor.

2011: Digital-First Strategy

In 2011, Bangor Daily News adopted an aggressive "digital-first" publishing strategy, becoming the most-read online news source in the state.

2012: Partnership with The Free Press

In 2012, BDN established a partnership with The Free Press, the student newspaper at the University of Southern Maine, through the BDN media partners program.

2012: Endorsement of Barack Obama for Reelection

In the 2012 presidential election, the paper's editorial board endorsed Barack Obama for reelection over Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

2013: Public Records Request for Concealed-Weapon Permits

In 2013, Bangor Daily News reporters submitted a public records request to Maine's state government for public information that included the names and addresses of the holders of concealed-weapon permits, which prompted a fierce uproar, and the newspaper dropped the request.