Demopolis Times
{{short description|Daily newspaper in Demopolis, Alabama, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name = Demopolis Times
| image =
| caption =
| type = Weekly newspaper
| format = Broadsheet
| foundation = 1887
| ceased publication = 2025
| owners = Jeff and Michelle Schumacher
| publisher = Dennis Palmer
| editor = Kendra Majors
| language =
| political =
| circulation = 1,700
| headquarters = 315 East Jefferson Street, Demopolis, AL 36732
| oclc =
| ISSN =
| website = {{URL|demopolistimes.com}}
}}
The Demopolis Times was a daily newspaper serving Demopolis, Alabama from 1887 to 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/1/32/22|title=Demopolis Times newspaper|website=Mondo Times}}
History
The paper was formed out of two competing 19th century papers: the Demopolis Express (1893) and the Demopolis Dispatch (1897). In 1905, both papers were bought by a group of investors, and by 1910 E. S. Cornish had begun editing the paper and was part-owner.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21801796/demopolis_newspaper_is_sold/|title=Demopolis Newspaper Is Sold|date=19 October 1967|work=Montgomery Advertiser|location=Montgomery, Alabama}} With a brief hiatus early in his career (during which the paper was edited by C. A. VerBeck),{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21801544/back_after_many_years/|title=Back After Many Years|date=30 May 1912|work=Greensboro Watchman|location=Greensboro, Alabama}} Cornish would be associated with the paper until his death in 1936. Under his leadership, the paper went to linotype printing 1919, at a cost of three thousand dollars.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21801182/a_business_proposition/|title=A Business Proposition|date=4 September 1919|work=Wilcox Progressive Era|location=Camden, Alabama}} In 1930, he asked his son-in-law, Ben George, to move back to Marengo County to eventually run the times. At the time, George had no newspaper experience, and he began work there as a linotype editor{{Cite news|url=https://www.demopolistimes.com/2015/04/08/spring-pilgrimage-to-be-held-this-weekend/|title=Spring Pilgrimage to be held this weekend|date=8 April 2015|work=Demopolis Times}}
The paper was sold to George and his wife Elizabeth in 1936. In 1941, the newspaper building and plant were destroyed by fire, doing an estimated fifteen thousand dollars worth of damage.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21801428/demopolis_times_is_plant_destroyed_by/|title=Demopolis Times Plant Is Destroyed By Fire|date=17 July 1941|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|location=Montgomery, Alabama}} In 1956, editor Ben George was elected president of the Alabama Press Association.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21801326/mobile_greets_alabama_editors_and_wives/|title=Mobile Greets Alabama Editors and Wives|date=5 August 1956|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|location=Montgomery, Alabama}} He and Elizabeth sold the paper in 1967. Boone Newspapers bought the paper in 1979.{{Cite web |last=Thornton |first=William |date=2025-06-05 |title=This Alabama newspaper has gone out of business after almost 120 years |url=https://www.al.com/news/2025/06/this-alabama-newspaper-has-gone-out-of-business-after-almost-120-years.html |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=AL.com |language=en}}
James Cannon was named publisher in 2008.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21801078/cannon_publisher_of_the_demopolis/|title=Cannon Publisher of 'The Demopolis Times'|date=26 June 2008|work=Montgomery Advertiser|location=Montgomery, Alabama}} In 2018, the paper won six awards from the Alabama Press Association including a second-place finish for best business story or column in its class.{{Cite web |date=25 May 2018 |title=APA Better Newspaper Contest Award Winners Announced |url=http://www.alabamapress.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/UPDATED-FINAL-FOR-RELEASE-2018-BNC-Press-Release.pdf |website=Alabama Press Association}}
In April 2025, Boone Newspapers sold the paper to Jeff and Michelle Schumacher.{{Cite web |last=Press Release |first= |last2= |date=2025-04-30 |title=Boone Newsmedia, Inc. sells four Alabama newspapers to the Schumacher family |url=https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/boone-newsmedia-inc-sells-four-alabama-newspapers-to-the-schumacher-family,255537 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Editor and Publisher |language=en}} Two months later the couple closed the paper.