Morning Sentinel
{{short description|Newspaper in Waterville, Maine}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name = Morning Sentinel
| image = File:Morning Sentinel logo.jpg
| caption =
| type = Daily newspaper
| format = Broadsheet
| foundation = {{start date|1904|03|03}}, as Waterville Morning Sentinel
| ceased publication =
| owners = {{ubl|Maine Trust for Local News {{smaller|(2023–present)}}}}
| publisher =
| editor = {{ubl|Scott Monroe {{smaller|(acting)}}|Jim Evans {{smaller|(managing editor)}}}}
| circulation = 13,922 daily
| headquarters = 31 Front Street,
Waterville, Maine 04901, United States
| ISSN =
| oclc = 38243825
| website = [https://www.centralmaine.com/ centralmaine.com]
}}
The Morning Sentinel is an American daily newspaper published six mornings a week in Waterville, Maine. Printed at the Portland Press Herald press in South Portland, Maine, it covers cities and towns in parts of Franklin, Kennebec, Penobscot and Somerset counties.
The publication was run between 2000 and 2023 by MaineToday Media. In August 2023, it was announced that it had been acquired by a non-profit group of Maine newspapers, Maine Trust for Local News.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2023/08/01/sale-of-maine-newspapers-to-national-nonprofit-is-finalized/|title=Sale of Maine newspapers to national nonprofit is finalized|work=Press Herald|access-date=2023-09-08|language=en-US}}
History
Founded in 1904 by officials of the Waterville Democratic Party—Waterville mayor Cyrus Davis; future U.S. Senator Charles Fletcher Johnson; and future mayor L. Eugene Thayer, leavened by newspaper veteran Thomas F. Murphy—the Waterville Morning Sentinel, within a year, grew from a three-desk operation to requiring its own building, on Silver Street.[http://www.centralmaine.com/about.shtml CentralMaine.com: About] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629114523/http://www.centralmaine.com/about.shtml |date=2007-06-29 }}, accessed May 27, 2007.
In 1911, a financially ailing Davis sold the paper to bond holders; ten years later, it was bought by Guy Gannett, who was in the process of building a newspaper, radio and television empire in Maine. His holdings included the Portland Press Herald and, after 1929, the Sentinel
Gannett's ownership also saw the paper become less politically biased. Gannett and his heirs—no relation to the Virginia-based chain called Gannett Company—held the three Maine dailies until 1998, when they sold them to The Seattle Times Company, which rechristened the chain "Blethen Maine Newspapers".
Frank Blethen, a descendant of Seattle Times founder Albert Blethen, a Maine native, later called the purchase "the largest and riskiest investment in our history" but a necessary move to keep the newspapers from becoming part of a corporate chain.Christie, John. [http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/view/columns/3021202.shtml "In the Newspaper Business, Who Owns the Place Makes All the Difference in the World"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015141145/http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/view/columns/3021202.shtml |date=2008-10-15 }}. Kennebec Journal (Augusta, Maine). August 13, 2006.
It was sold in 2009 to MaineToday Media.{{cite news|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090615006483/en/MaineToday-Media-Acquires-Maine-Newspapers-Online-Information |title=MaineToday Media Acquires Maine Newspapers, Online Information Portal and Related Real Estate Assets |work=Business Wire |date=June 15, 2009|accessdate=September 14, 2010}} In December, the newspaper was criticized for firing one of its journalists who had made negative remarks about the gay-rights group Human Rights Campaign.[https://www.foxnews.com/story/reporter-fired-for-anti-gay-marriage-e-mail-claims-wrongful-termination Reporter, Fired for Anti-Gay Marriage E-Mail, Claims Wrongful Termination][http://lezgetreal.com/?p=23644 Maine Reporter Fired Over Email Sent Attacking Human Rights Campaign] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207020741/http://lezgetreal.com/?p=23644 |date=2010-02-07 }}[http://rawstory.com/2009/12/maine-reporter-fired-calling-gay-rights-campaign-hateful-job/ Reporter fired for gay marriage taunt blames 'anti-Christian bias']
Starting in April 2025, the paper will be printed five days a week instead of six and will be delivered by mail via U.S. Postal Service instead of newspaper carriers.{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Eric |date=2025-03-04 |title=Maine Trust for Local News will reduce some print editions, lay off workers |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2025/03/04/maine-trust-for-local-news-will-reduce-print-shift-distribution-of-some-newspapers/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Press Herald}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060906033215/http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/ Morning Sentinel website]
- [http://www.seattletimescompany.com/ The Seattle Times Company website]
- {{Newseum front page|ME_MS}}
{{MaineToday}}
Category:Mass media in Kennebec County, Maine
Category:Newspapers published in Maine
Category:Newspapers established in 1904
Category:1904 establishments in Maine