Independent Record

File:1870+ Front-page banners of early newspapers in Helena, Montana.jpg

The roots of the IR lie in two newspapers that were founded in 1867, The Daily Herald of Helena and The Weekly Independent of Deer Lodge.

The Daily Herald started publishing in Helena on August 2, 1867.{{cite web |title=About The Daily herald. [volume] (Helena, M.T. [i.e. Mont.]) 1867-186? |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85053243/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}} The Weekly Independent started publishing in Deer Lodge on October 12, 1867,{{cite web |title=About The weekly independent. [volume] (Deer Lodge City, Mont.) 1867-1875 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84027525/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}} and then moved to Helena in March 1874,{{cite web |title=About The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025308/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}} and began publication as The Daily Independent, and then, in 1875, as The Helena Independent.{{cite web |title=About The Daily independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1874-1875 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85053100/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}}

The Herald later merged with The Montana Daily Record, which was founded in August 1900.{{cite web |title=About The Montana daily record. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1900-1916 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025307/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}} The new publication was renamed The Montana Record-Herald.{{cite web |title=About The Montana record-herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1916-1943 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85053101/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}} Additionally, on November 22, 1943, another merger followed: this time with The Helena Independent, to become the Independent Record.{{cite web |title=About The independent-record. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1943-current |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85053105/ |website=Chronicling America |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=22 October 2020}}

After over thirty years of ownership by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, the IR was sold to Lee Enterprises in 1959.{{Cite news |date=June 2, 1959 |title=Eight Montana Newspapers Bought by Lee Organization |work=Livingston Enterprise |pages=1}} The IR converted from hot metal to phototype in 1973, and in 1975, installed one of the first newsroom computer systems. In the summer of 2002, a new press plant was opened and housed in a new {{convert|30000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} printing and distribution center.

Starting July 11, 2023, the print edition of the newspaper will be reduced to three days a week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Also, the newspaper will transition from being delivered by a traditional newspaper delivery carrier to mail delivery by the U.S. Postal Service.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-06-11 |title=Your expanded Helena Independent Record coming soon |url=https://helenair.com/your-expanded-helena-independent-record-coming-soon/article_a6e0485d-95e3-5522-a455-dc1c3f6ad25e.html |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=The Independent Record |language=en}}

• Montana Free Press, an investigative journalism organization based in Helena, Montana

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• {{LCCN8|sn85053105|chronicling=yes}}

{{Lee Enterprises}}

{{Newspapers in Montana}}

Category:Newspapers published in Montana

Category:Lee Enterprises publications

Category:Helena, Montana

Category:1867 establishments in Montana Territory

Category:Daily newspapers published in the United States

Category:Newspapers established in 1867

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