Birmingham Post-Herald
| Birmingham — Friday’s edition of the Birmingham Post-Herald will be the newspaper’s last. The owner of the afternoon daily, E-W Scripps, says the economics were –quote– “no longer favorable” to keep publishing.
“The Post-Herald’s talented and dedicated staff produces an excellent newspaper,” says Richard A. Boehne, Scripps’ executive vice president and head of the company’s newspaper division, “but unfortunately the Birmingham market has made it clear it will no longer support an afternoon edition.”
The company says it’s developed a severance package for the Post-Herald’s 43 editorial department employees.
The Post-Herald began as the daily morning newspaper when the Birmingham Post and the Age-Herald merged. As part of a joint operating agreement with the afternoon paper The Birmingham News, the two dailies switched cycles in 1996. Circulation plummeted.
Post-Herald editor and president Jim Willis tells WBHM’s Steve Chiotakis it’s been a heart-breaking day for employees. And writers are putting together the paper’s “obituary” for Friday.
The Post-Herald’s demise is no surprise to Michael Hoyt, the executive editor of the Columbia Journalism Review. He says newspaper circulation is down all over the country and afternoon papers have been taking a particularly hard hit.
The Post-Herald’s been publishing under its current banner since 1950.
| Columbia Journalism Review
Out with the mayo: How Ukrainians reclaim holiday food
For many people from former Soviet countries, New Year's is a big holiday feast time. A Ukrainian restaurant in Washington gives NPR a taste of what's on the menu.
His brother’s mental illness isolated his family. Now he’s helping other caregivers
When it comes to serious mental illness, family caregivers are crucial partners. But often, they must fend for themselves. A new solution offers them support.
Farmers are about to pay a lot more for health insurance
Tariffs, inflation, and other federal policies have battered U.S. farmers' bottom lines. Now many farmers say the expiration of federal health care subsidies will make their coverage unaffordable.
Why do we make New Year’s resolutions? A brief history of a long tradition
One of the earliest mentions of New Year's resolutions appeared in a Boston newspaper in 1813. But the practice itself can be traced back to the Babylonians.
In one year, Trump pivots fentanyl response from public health to drug war
Experts say Biden's focus on addiction health care saved tens of thousands of lives and slowed fentanyl smuggling. Trump scrapped Biden's approach in favor of military strikes.
A little boy gave her hope for her foster daughter’s future
At a neighborhood park, a young boy noticed Natalie's young foster daughter using a walker. His reaction left Natalie with an unexpected feeling of hope for the future.
