History of The Patriot-News in Timeline

The Patriot-News is a major newspaper serving the Harrisburg–Carlisle, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area. Ranked among the top 100 newspapers in the U.S. for daily and Sunday circulation in 2005, it has been under the ownership of Advance Publications since 1947. It is a primary source of news and information for central Pennsylvania.

1917: The Evening News Founded

In 1917, The Evening News was founded, marking the beginning of one half of what would become The Patriot-News.

1947: Owned by Advance Publications

In 1947, The Patriot-News was owned by Advance Publications.

1947: Papers Bought by Edwin Russell

In 1947, both The Patriot and The Evening News were bought by Edwin Russell, with financial backing from the Newhouse chain, which is the forerunner of Advance Publications. Later that year, the Newhouse chain assumed majority ownership.

1953: Operation Alongside WTPA

From 1953, The Patriot and The Evening News were operated alongside south-central Pennsylvania's ABC affiliate, WTPA.

1980: Sale of WTPA

In 1980, WTPA, along with the rest of the Newhouse television division, was sold to Times Mirror and is now WHTM-TV, owned by Nexstar Media Group.

1996: Merger of The Patriot and Evening News

In 1996, The Patriot and Evening News merged into a single morning paper, named The Patriot-News.

2001: Death of Edwin Russell

In 2001, Edwin Russell, who had been the driving force behind The Patriot and The Evening News, passed away.

2001: Distinguished Writing Award

In 2001, Jim Lewis, a reporter for The Patriot-News, won the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's Distinguished Writing Award.

2003: G. Richard Dew Award

In 2003, The Patriot-News won the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association’s G. Richard Dew Award for Journalistic Service for its coverage of the attempted sale of Hershey Foods.

2004: Distinguished Writing Award

In 2004, Jim Lewis, a reporter for The Patriot-News, won the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's Distinguished Writing Award.

2004: "10 That Do It Right"

In 2004, The Patriot-News was named as one of "10 That Do It Right" by Editor & Publisher magazine.

2004: Newspaper of the Year Awards

The year 2004 began a run in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's Newspaper of the Year Awards unmatched in the contest's history for The Patriot-News.

2005: Distinguished Writing Award

In 2005, Jim Lewis, a reporter for The Patriot-News, won the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's Distinguished Writing Award.

2005: Ranked in Top 100

In 2005, The Patriot-News was ranked in the top 100 in daily and Sunday circulation in the United States.

2005: First Place Newspaper of the Year

In 2005, The Patriot-News won first place as the state's Newspaper of the Year in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's awards.

2006: First Place Newspaper of the Year

In 2006, The Patriot-News won first place as the state's Newspaper of the Year in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's awards.

2006: Keystone Press Award

In 2006, The Patriot-News won the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's Keystone Press Award Division I Sweepstakes.

2007: Awards for Jan Murphy and Ford Turner

In 2007, Jan Murphy won a First Amendment award for stories on PHEAA spending, and Ford Turner won an APME Public Service award for uncovering a high cancer rate in Selinsgrove, PA. Murphy also won an investigative reporting prize from the National Education Writers Association.

2007: First Place Newspaper of the Year

In 2007, The Patriot-News won first place as the state's Newspaper of the Year in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's awards.

2007: Young Reader Prize

The Patriot-News was awarded The World Association of Newspapers Young Reader Prize for Newspaper in Education in 2007 for its SchoolHouse News program with the Harrisburg School District.

2008: Second Place Distinguished Writing Award

In 2008, Ford Turner, a reporter for The Patriot-News, won second place in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's Distinguished Writing Award.

2009: Death of Pete Shellem

In 2009, investigative reporter Pete Shellem passed away. Shellem's stories in The Patriot-News had resulted in the release of Patty Carbone, Steven Crawford, Barry Laughman, David Gladden, and Charles Dubs, who had been wrongly convicted of murder or rape.

2010: Distinguished Writing Award

In 2010, Ford Turner, a reporter for The Patriot-News, won first place in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's Distinguished Writing Award.

2010: First Place Newspaper of the Year

In 2010, The Patriot-News won first place as the state's Newspaper of the Year in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's awards.

2010: Keystone Press Award

In 2010, The Patriot-News won the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's Keystone Press Award Division I Sweepstakes.

March 2011: Coverage of Penn State Scandal

In March 2011, Sara Ganim wrote a substantial piece on the Penn State sex abuse scandal, early in the coverage of the story.

November 2011: Sandusky Indictment Coverage

In November 2011, Sara Ganim began gaining national attention following Jerry Sandusky's indictment in the Penn State sex abuse scandal, after writing a substantial piece in March 2011.

March 2012: Scripps Howard Award

In March 2012, Sara Ganim and the staff of The Patriot-News won the Scripps Howard Award for Community Journalism for their coverage of the Penn State sex abuse scandal.

April 2012: Pulitzer Prize Awarded

In April 2012, Sara Ganim and the news staff of The Patriot-News were awarded the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting for the coverage of the Penn State sex abuse scandal.

August 28, 2012: Shift to Three-Day Print Publication

On August 28, 2012, the newspaper's publisher announced that it would shift to a three-day print publication schedule beginning January 1, 2013, and expand its digital focus on its website, PennLive.com, and social media platforms.

2012: Pulitzer Prize Awarded

In 2012, Patriot-News reporter Sara Ganim and staff, under the leadership of Editor-In-Chief David Newhouse, were awarded a Pulitzer Prize for breaking the story of the Penn State sex abuse scandal.

January 1, 2013: Implementation of Three-Day Print Schedule

Beginning on January 1, 2013, The Patriot-News shifted to a three-day print publication schedule and expanded its digital focus on its website, PennLive.com, and social media platforms.

November 14, 2013: Retraction Issued

On November 14, 2013, The Patriot-News issued a retraction, stating that the Patriot & Union editorial board failed to recognize the "momentous importance, timeless eloquence, and lasting significance" of the Gettysburg Address.