The Birmingham News
A historic Birmingham, Alabama newspaper that transitioned from daily print publication to a digital operation associated with AL.com.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Birmingham News was a major newspaper serving Birmingham, Alabama, and one of the state’s most influential news organizations during the twentieth century and the early twenty-first century. Rufus N. Rhodes founded the paper on March 14, 1888, as The Evening News. It began as a four-page publication with two reporters and limited capital, entering a rapidly expanding industrial city that was promoting itself as a model of the New South. Rhodes had previously worked for the Daily Herald, but left after a disagreement with its publisher over a proposed viaduct connecting parts of Birmingham. The new paper supported the project and used its editorial voice to advocate for civic development. The publication grew rapidly. It became Alabama’s largest daily newspaper by 1891, when it also won a contract to publish the General Laws of Alabama. Its name evolved from The Evening News to The Daily News and then, in 1895, to The Birmingham News. Under Victor H. Hanson, who succeeded Rhodes after his death in 1910, the paper modernized its operations and expanded circulation. The News introduced a Sunday edition in 1912 and eventually became the dominant Sunday newspaper in Birmingham. It acquired the Birmingham Ledger in 1918 and later acquired the Birmingham Age-Herald in 1927, although the latter continued in a separate publishing arrangement for a period. In 1950, Scripps-Howard acquired the Birmingham Age-Herald and entered into a joint operating agreement involving the Birmingham Post-Herald. The News provided printing, advertising, subscription, and other business services while the newspapers retained separate editorial staffs. The arrangement continued until the Post-Herald closed in 2005, leaving The Birmingham News as Birmingham’s only daily newspaper. In 1956, the Hanson family sold the paper to Advance Publications for $18 million, then an exceptionally large price for an American daily newspaper. Advance retained ownership and later grouped its Alabama newspaper interests with the Mobile and Huntsville properties. The News remained notable for investigative reporting, editorial campaigns, political endorsements, photography, and coverage of Alabama public affairs. Its journalism received Pulitzer Prizes for editorial writing, investigative reporting, commentary, and local reporting. Among its major accomplishments were a 1991 editorial campaign on inequities in Alabama’s tax system, Brett Blackledge’s 2007 investigation of corruption in the state’s two-year college system, John Archibald’s commentary on Alabama politics, and the 2023 local-reporting award for coverage of alleged abuses in Brookside, Alabama. Like many metropolitan newspapers, the publication faced declining print advertising and circulation. On October 1, 2012, it reduced print publication from daily frequency to editions on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while shifting strategic emphasis to AL.com. Advance reorganized the Alabama operations into Alabama Media Group, responsible for editorial and advertising functions, and Advance Central Services Alabama, responsible for production, distribution, and administrative services. The News published its final print edition on February 26, 2023, after nearly 135 years. Its journalism and Birmingham-focused digital coverage continue through AL.com, but The Birmingham News no longer operates as a print newspaper.
History
The Birmingham News began publication on March 14, 1888, when Rufus N. Rhodes launched The Evening News in Birmingham, Alabama. The city was a young but rapidly industrializing center, and the paper’s early editorial identity reflected the boosterism common among New South newspapers. Rhodes promoted civic infrastructure and economic growth, including a viaduct across the railroad corridor that divided portions of Birmingham. The resulting News Bridge became an early symbol of the newspaper’s willingness to campaign for municipal development. The paper expanded quickly. Its circulation rose from 628 in 1888 to more than 7,000 by 1891, when it became Alabama’s largest daily and obtained the right to publish the state’s General Laws. The title changed to The Daily News and, in 1895, to The Birmingham News. Circulation reached approximately 17,000 by 1909. The paper generally presented a progressive editorial position in its early decades, supporting Democratic candidates, prohibition, and the Greater Birmingham annexation movement. That annexation campaign helped expand the city’s population and metropolitan footprint. After Rhodes died in 1910, Victor H. Hanson became the leading figure at the newspaper. Hanson modernized its format and business operations, increasing circulation from roughly 18,000 in 1910 to 40,000 in 1914. The News launched a Sunday edition in 1912 and by 1920 had overtaken the Birmingham Age-Herald in Sunday circulation. In 1917, it moved into a six-story Jacobean-style building. The following year, it purchased the Birmingham Ledger, increasing its staff and circulation. Hanson acquired the Age-Herald in 1927. The competitive structure of Birmingham newspapers changed in 1950 when Scripps-Howard purchased the Age-Herald and entered a joint operating arrangement involving the Birmingham Post-Herald. The News printed both papers and handled advertising and circulation services, but the editorial operations remained independent. The arrangement lasted until the Post-Herald ceased publication in September 2005. The Hanson family sold The Birmingham News to Advance Publications in 1956 for $18 million. Advance retained the paper and later coordinated it with The Huntsville Times and Mobile’s Press-Register through shared Alabama operations and the AL.com website. In 1997, the News and Post-Herald switched publication roles, making The Birmingham News the morning paper. The newspaper also expanded its physical facilities, opening a new headquarters in 2006 and later moving to a smaller renovated warehouse as print operations contracted. The 2006 building was sold in 2015. The digital transition became decisive in 2012. Falling advertising revenue and circulation led Advance to reduce the newspaper from daily print publication to three weekly print editions beginning October 1. Alabama Media Group assumed editorial and advertising responsibilities, while Advance Central Services Alabama handled production, distribution, and administrative services. The News continued to publish major local investigations and opinion journalism despite the reduced print schedule. On February 26, 2023, it printed its final edition. The Birmingham News brand no longer represents a standalone print newspaper, but its Birmingham journalism continues through the digital AL.com operation.
- 2023
Final print edition
[1]The News publishes its final print edition after almost 135 years.
- 2018
John Archibald wins Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
[4]Archibald is honored for commentary on Alabama politics and public life.
- 2012
Reduces print frequency
[1]The newspaper moves to Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday print editions and emphasizes AL.com.
- 2011
Acquires Birmingham magazine
[1]The News acquires Birmingham magazine from the Birmingham Business Alliance.
- 2007
Wins Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting
[3]Brett Blackledge receives the award for reporting on corruption in Alabama’s two-year college system.
- 2006
Opens a new headquarters
[1]The newspaper opens a four-story headquarters building across from its historic plant.
- 2005
The Birmingham Post-Herald closes
[1]The closure leaves The Birmingham News as Birmingham’s only daily newspaper.
- 1997
Becomes Birmingham’s morning newspaper
[1]The News and Post-Herald switch morning and evening publication roles.
- 1956
Sold to Advance Publications
[1]The Hanson family sells the newspaper to Advance Publications for $18 million.
- 1950
Enters a joint operating arrangement
[1]The News begins providing printing and commercial services for the Birmingham Post-Herald while the two papers maintain separate editorial staffs.
Products and positioning
A civic-minded regional news institution focused on Birmingham, Alabama, and statewide public affairs, with a long-standing emphasis on local reporting, editorial commentary, investigative journalism, and community development.
Print newspaper · 1888
The Birmingham News print newspaper
The core product was a Birmingham-focused newspaper published daily from its 1888 founding through September 30, 2012. It then appeared three times weekly—on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—until the final print edition in February 2023. Coverage included local government, business, education, sports, culture, state politics, and editorial commentary.
Print newspaper · 1912
Sunday edition
Introduced in 1912, the Sunday edition became an important competitive and commercial product. By 1920, The Birmingham News had established dominance in Birmingham’s Sunday newspaper market over the Birmingham Age-Herald.
Digital news
AL.com Birmingham
AL.com is the surviving digital platform associated with the Alabama newspaper group. After the 2012 print reductions and the 2023 end of print publication, it became the principal digital channel for Birmingham-area journalism connected with The Birmingham News operation.
Controversies
2023
Brookside police and municipal-finance investigation
The News and AL.com reporting examined allegations that Brookside police used fines, towing, and fabricated or questionable charges to generate municipal revenue.
2007
Investigation of Alabama two-year college corruption
Reporter Brett Blackledge’s series exposed corruption in Alabama’s two-year college system and resulted in Pulitzer recognition.
Marketing campaigns
- 2006Editorial reconsideration of the death penalty
Alabama
The editorial staff published a series that reversed the newspaper’s longstanding support for capital punishment.
Outcome. The series made the staff a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing.
- 1991Alabama tax-system reform campaign
Alabama
Editorial writers analyzed inequities in Alabama’s tax structure and argued for reforms.
Outcome. The campaign won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing.
- 1900Greater Birmingham annexation campaign
Birmingham metropolitan area
The News advocated annexation of surrounding communities as part of the Greater Birmingham movement.
Outcome. The campaign contributed to Birmingham’s substantial population and municipal-area growth during the following decade.
- 1891News Bridge and civic-development advocacy
Birmingham · Alabama
Rufus N. Rhodes’s newspaper supported construction of a viaduct across Birmingham’s railroad corridor, linking its editorial identity to infrastructure and metropolitan development.
Outcome. The viaduct was completed and later became known as the News Bridge.
Brand decisions
2023
Termination of print publicationStrategyBackground
Advance management continued moving the Alabama properties toward digital distribution.
Action taken
The Birmingham News ended its print edition on February 26, 2023.
Aftermath
Birmingham news coverage continued digitally through AL.com, but the newspaper ceased operating as a print publication.
2012
Reduction from daily to three-times-weekly printStrategyBackground
Declining advertising revenue and circulation weakened the economics of traditional daily newspaper publication.
Action taken
Advance ended Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday print editions and emphasized AL.com.
Aftermath
The News became one of the largest American-city newspapers without a daily print edition, while Alabama Media Group reorganized the editorial and commercial operation.
1956
Advance Publications acquisitionM&ABackground
The Hanson family decided to sell the newspaper after decades of family ownership.
Action taken
Advance Publications purchased The Birmingham News for $18 million.
Aftermath
Advance retained the newspaper for the remainder of its print life and later integrated it with its Alabama newspaper and digital operations.
Acquisition price. $18 million (1956)
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