Hutchinson Leader will cease operations April 28, the newspaper announced today, bringing an end to its more than 140 years of service to Hutchinson and the McLeod County area.
The Leader’s shopper companion, Weekend Leader Shopper, and its sister publications, the Litchfield Independent Review and Meeker County Advertiser, and the Crow River Press printing business also will close.
The final edition of the newspapers will be Wednesday, April 24.
The newspapers’ management said it will refund the balance of paid subscriptions in the coming weeks.
The Leader and Independent Review, like many newspaper businesses around the country, have been challenged during the past decade or longer by changing lifestyle habits, especially by the dramatic shift in advertising revenue from local print publications to digital options such as Google, Facebook and Amazon.
The COVID-19 pandemic took a significant toll on newspaper businesses as well, with advertising revenue falling 25% to 50%. Local advertising revenue is the primary revenue source for most weekly newspapers. Hundreds of newspapers across the country have closed or downsized, reduced their publication schedules and made other cost-cutting measures.
The Leader, Independent Review and Crow River Press — collectively known as Crow River Media — as well as sister newspapers in the southwest metropolitan area, are owned by MediaNews Group, a Denver-based media company, which also owns the Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
In a related announcement today, Southwest News Media said its publications — Shakopee Valley News, Prior Lake American, Savage Pacer, Jordan Independent, Chaska Herald and Chanhassen Villager — also will cease operations April 28.
The Leader was founded in 1880, and the Litchfield Independent Review was founded in 1876.
