History of Portland Press Herald in Timeline

The Portland Press Herald is a daily newspaper located in South Portland, Maine, serving readers statewide with a focus on southern Maine and the greater Portland metropolitan area.

1904: Bought by Maine Republicans

In 1904, the Portland Press Herald was bought by a syndicate of Maine Republicans, including Henry B. Cleaves and Joseph Homan Manley.

1920: Cap'n Haskell leaves Eastern Argus

In 1920, Thomas Haskell, also known as Cap'n Haskell, who covered marine news for the Eastern Argus, left the paper after its merger with the Portland Press.

November 21, 1921: First edition of Portland Press Herald published

On November 21, 1921, the Portland Daily Press merged with the Portland Herald to form the Portland Press Herald, with the first edition published on this date.

1922: Balanced editorial approach

In 1922, under Gannett's ownership, the Portland Press Herald adopted a balanced editorial approach, publishing Democratic candidate William Robinson Pattangall's criticism of the Republican incumbent, Governor Percival Baxter.

1923: New building on Congress Street

In 1923, Guy Gannett built a new building at 390 Congress Street to house the Portland Press Herald's operations.

1923: Press Herald Building Constructed

In 1923, Guy Gannett built the Press Herald Building at 390 Congress Street to house all of the paper's operations.

1925: Purchased Portland Evening Express and Daily Advertiser

In 1925, Guy Gannett purchased the Portland Evening Express and Daily Advertiser, shortening its name to Evening Express.

1928: Death of Cap'n Haskell

In 1928, Thomas Haskell, known as Cap'n Haskell, died three months after leaving the Portland Press Herald.

1928: Merged with Portland Sunday Telegram

In 1928, the Portland Press Herald merged with the Portland Sunday Telegram to form the Portland Sunday Telegram and Sunday Press Herald.

1929: Purchased Kennebec Journal and Central Maine Morning Sentinel

In 1929, Guy Gannett bought Augusta's Kennebec Journal and Waterville's Central Maine Morning Sentinel.

1929: Editorial war about the Kellogg–Briand Pact

In 1929, the Portland Press Herald and the Portland Evening News "waged an editorial war" about the Kellogg–Briand Pact.

1930: Editorial war about the 1930 London Conference

In 1930, the Portland Press Herald and the Portland Evening News "waged an editorial war" about the 1930 London Conference on naval arms limitations.

1935: May Craig becomes Washington correspondent

In 1935, May Craig became the Washington correspondent for the Portland Press Herald.

1948: Addition to the Press Herald Building

In 1948, an addition was made to the north side of the Press Herald Building, facing Congress Street.

1965: May Craig ends tenure as Washington correspondent

In 1965, May Craig ended her tenure as the Washington correspondent for the Portland Press Herald.

1988: Newspaper Opens Print Plant

In 1988, the newspaper opened a $40 million print plant at 295 Gannet Drive in South Portland.

1994: Endorsement of Angus King

In 1994, the Portland Press Herald endorsed Angus King for governor.

1996: Portland Press Herald acquires Portland.com

In 1996, the Portland Press Herald acquired the domain name Portland.com for free and used it as the web address for the paper.

1998: Sold to The Seattle Times Company

In 1998, Guy Gannett Communications sold the Portland Press Herald to The Seattle Times Company.

1998: Endorsement of Angus King

In 1998, the Portland Press Herald endorsed Angus King for governor again.

2004: Portland.com sold

In 2004, Portland.com was sold to a marketing firm under Richard Connor's leadership and became a visitor's guide for Portland, Oregon.

2006: Missouri Lifestyle Journalism Award

In 2006, the Portland Press Herald received a Missouri Lifestyle Journalism Award for General Excellence, Class III.

February 3, 2007: Controversial ad in religion section

On February 3, 2007, the Portland Press Herald published a controversial advertisement in its "religion and values" section placed by the First Baptist Church of South Portland that caused outrage in Greater Portland's Jewish community.

March 17, 2008: Format change to two sections

On March 17, 2008, the Portland Press Herald converted from a multi-section format to two sections.

June 15, 2009: Sold to MaineToday Media

On June 15, 2009, the Portland Press Herald was sold to MaineToday Media, Inc., headed by Richard L. Connor.

September 11, 2010: Controversy over Ramadan story

On September 11, 2010, Richard L. Connor apologized for the Portland Press Herald's front-page story on local Ramadan celebrations, deeming it offensive on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

2010: Endorsement of conservative Republican candidates

In 2010, the Portland Press Herald endorsed conservative Republican candidates Dean Scontras and Jason Levesque in both of Maine's congressional districts.

2010: Newspaper Sold Building and Printing Plant

In 2010, under Richard Connor's ownership, the newspaper sold the Press Herald Building and printing plant, then moved its news staff to the nearby One City Center office building.

2011: Layoffs and lawsuit

In 2011, the Portland Press Herald eliminated 61 positions and was sued by a paper supplier for $124,000 in unpaid bills; Richard L. Connor left the newspaper at the end of 2011.

February 2012: Investment by Maine Values LLC

In February 2012, Maine Values LLC, owned by S. Donald Sussman, made a $3–4 million investment in MaineToday Media, acquiring a 5% equity stake.

2012: Colin Woodard receives George Polk Award

In 2012, Colin Woodard of the Maine Sunday Telegram received a George Polk Award in the "Education Reporting" category.

2013: Payment from Travelers Casualty & Surety Co.

In 2013, Travelers Casualty & Surety Co. paid MaineToday Media over $500,000 under the company’s employee theft insurance policy to recoup money that former publisher Richard P. Connor had allegedly stolen.

2015: Colin Woodard named Maine Journalist of the Year

In 2015, Colin Woodard was named Maine Journalist of the Year for his work with the Portland Press Herald.

2015: Sold to Reade Brower

In 2015, MaineToday Media was sold to Reade Brower, owner of several Maine newspapers and a printing operation.

2015: "Payday at the Mill" series

In 2015, Whit Richardson and Steve Mistler released the series "Payday at the Mill".

2015: The Press Hotel Opens

In 2015, the 110-room Press Hotel opened in the newspaper's former headquarters.

2016: Colin Woodard finalist for Pulitzer Prize

In 2016, Colin Woodard of the Portland Press Herald was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting.

2016: Print Plant Purchased by J.B. Brown & Co.

In 2016, J.B. Brown & Co. purchased the print plant and its surrounding 21 acres in an office park for a reported $4.9 million, then leased the building back to the newspaper.

2016: Whit Richardson and Steve Mistler receive Gerald Loeb Award

In 2016, Whit Richardson and Steve Mistler of the Portland Press Herald received a Gerald Loeb Award for their 2015 series "Payday at the Mill".

2016: Endorsement of Hillary Clinton

In 2016, the editorial board of the Portland Press Herald endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton for president.

2020: Allan Kozinn leaves Portland Press Herald

In 2020, Allan Kozinn left the Portland Press Herald, where he was the classical music critic since 2015.

2021: Sale of The Press Hotel

In 2021, Jim Brady sold The Press Hotel to a San Francisco-based real estate private equity firm.

July 2023: Sale to National Trust for Local News announced

In July 2023, it was announced that the National Trust for Local News would buy the Portland Press Herald from Reade Brower.

2023: Part of the Maine Trust for Local News

In 2023, the Portland Press Herald became part of the Maine Trust for Local News, a nonprofit group run by the National Trust for Local News, including four other daily newspapers and 17 weekly newspapers.

October 2024: Carolyn Fox replaces Steve Greenlee as Executive editor

In October 2024, Carolyn Fox replaced Steve Greenlee, who left a year before, as the Executive Editor of Portland Press Herald. Steve Greenlee left to become a Boston University professor.