Marietta Times. A daily newspaper serving Marietta, Ohio, and the broader Mid-Ohio Valley region. As the primary—and often only—newspaper in Washington County, the Marietta Times has served as the community’s essential source of local news, government coverage, and civic information for over a century.
Founded in the late 19th century, the Marietta Times emerged during an era when local newspapers were vital institutions in American communities. The publication has witnessed and documented Marietta’s transformation from a Ohio River port town to a modern community, chronicling everything from industrial development to educational milestones at Marietta College. Throughout its history, the Marietta Times has maintained its commitment to hyperlocal journalism, focusing on city council meetings, school board decisions, high school sports, and community events that directly impact residents’ daily lives.
The newspaper’s coverage area extends beyond Marietta proper to include surrounding communities in Washington County and parts of neighboring counties. This regional approach reflects the interconnected nature of small-town Ohio communities, where residents often work, shop, and attend events across municipal boundaries. The Marietta Times serves as a unifying voice for this dispersed but connected population.
Like many small-town newspapers across America, the Marietta Times has faced significant challenges in the digital age. The rise of social media, declining print advertising revenues, and changes in news consumption habits have forced the publication to adapt its business model and editorial approach. Despite these pressures, the Marietta Times continues to fulfill its role as the community’s newspaper of record, maintaining archives of local government proceedings, legal notices, and historical documentation.
The Marietta Times publishes both print and digital editions, with its website serving readers who prefer online access to news. The newspaper covers a full spectrum of local topics, including municipal government, law enforcement, education, business development, arts and culture, and comprehensive high school sports coverage that remains particularly popular among readers. Obituaries and community announcements also constitute significant portions of the publication’s content, serving as vital community information resources.
Editorial leadership at the Marietta Times has traditionally emphasized objective reporting and community service journalism. The newspaper regularly covers Marietta City Council meetings, Washington County government proceedings, and Marietta City Schools board sessions, providing transparency and accountability in local governance. This watchdog function becomes particularly crucial in smaller communities where the Marietta Times may be the only media outlet consistently monitoring local government activities.
The Marietta Times also serves important economic functions within the community. Local businesses rely on the newspaper for advertising reach, classified advertisements connect buyers and sellers, and legal notices published in the Marietta Times fulfill statutory requirements for public notifications. These revenue streams, while diminished from their historical peaks, remain essential to the newspaper’s continued operation.
Community engagement represents a core value for the Marietta Times. The newspaper sponsors and promotes local events, recognizes student achievements, and provides platforms for community organizations to share information about meetings and activities. This civic involvement extends beyond mere news reporting to active participation in Marietta’s social and cultural fabric.
The Marietta Times stands as a testament to the enduring importance of local journalism in American communities. While national news dominates much contemporary media attention, the Marietta Times demonstrates that hyperlocal coverage of city councils, school boards, and community events remains irreplaceable for informed civic participation and community cohesion.