Pennsylvania News Media Association

10/09/2026

What happens when a community loses its newspaper? Research curated by the Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy reveals the risks, including increased municipal borrowing costs, more uncontested elections, government corruption charges, and declines in civic engagement, volunteerism and local business growth.

Read more from Mike Orren, CEO and publisher of LNP + LancasterOnline here: https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/columnists/on-national-newspaper-week-and-the-importance-of-your-local-paper-column/article_ba3469e0-e010-481f-8b24-a112b8986117.html

Sunday kicks off the 86th National Newspaper Week, at a time when conventional wisdom would argue that our industry faces its deepest existential crisis.

10/09/2026

Representatives from The Daily News attended the Sept. 29 Huntington County commissioners meeting as officials signed a proclamation recognizing Oct. 4-10, 2026, as National Newspaper Week.

“Free independent press is the cornerstone of American democracy, informing citizens, and ensuring transparency and accountability in local government,” said commissioners chair Scott Walls.

“National Newspaper Week provides an opportunity to recognize the vital role of newspapers in connecting our neighborhoods, preserving local heritage and strengthening the social and economic fabric of our community.”

Read more: https://www.huntingdondailynews.com/news/local/newspaper-week-recognized/article_5792fae9-227f-47b5-ab8c-a16a6c05a22f.html

At their weekly meeting Sept. 29, the Huntingdon County Commissioners signed a proclamation recognizing October 4 to 10, 2026, as national newspaper week. Representatives from The Daily News attended the

10/09/2026

The Bedford County Commissioners adopted a proclamation for National Newspaper Week, honoring The Bedford Gazette locally for its work in the industry. 📰👏✨

It was read to those in attendance by Associate Publisher Sherri Growden. The Gazette has been in publication since 1805.

National Newspaper Week is being celebrated for the 86th year in 2026, honoring the vital role that local journalism plays in communities across the United States and Canada.

Read more: https://www.bedfordgazette.com/news/local/commissioners-recognize-national-newspaper-week/article_39c947c1-ef55-4b75-99f4-a5ed87a453c9.html

Along with other proclamations during this week’s meeting of the Bedford County Commissioners, adopted was one for National Newspaper Week, which is currently running through October 10.

10/09/2026

As part of National Newspaper Week, 16 publishers and newsroom leaders participated in PNA's Day on the Hill at the state Capitol on Wednesday. The group met with more than two dozen legislators throughout the morning and was recognized on the House floor by Speaker Rep. Joanna McClinton (D-Delaware/Philadelphia).

In the afternoon, participants toured seldom-seen areas of the Capitol and met briefly with Lt. Governor Austin Davis. They left with tired feet, a deeper appreciation for the work that takes place under the Dome and a renewed understanding of the role policymakers and journalists play in serving the public.

Thank you to all who participated!

10/08/2026

National Newspaper Week was celebrated at the state Capitol this week with the distribution of small gift bags to legislators. The bags contained an Americana-themed coaster and candy, along with a tag that read: "Local journalism is woven into the fabric of our communities."

Legislators also received an article written by Penn State students about the experiences of journalists who covered the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, illustrating the fast-paced and emotionally demanding nature of the profession.

Assisting PNA Director of Government Affairs Jan Murphy with the distribution were representatives from the association's lobbying partner, Novak Strategic Advisors LLC: Michele Rudloff, Carrie Nace and Jack Phillips.

Lawmakers and staff warmly received the gift bags and complimented the attractive red, white and blue packaging.

📸 PA State Rep. Joe Kerwin, PNA Director of Government Affairs Jan Murphy, and Rep. Amen Brown shown at the state Capitol in Harrisburg.

10/08/2026

Across Pennsylvania, from small towns to major cities, a common thread quietly weaves communities together. It draws attention to a local high school’s championship hopes, the detectives who solved a decades-old cold case, a proposed data center seeking approval in a township or the celebration of a hometown business reaching its 100th anniversary.

That thread is local journalism, and it is an essential part of the fabric that binds our communities. 🧵

National Newspaper Week offers an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the role local news organizations, both print and digital, play in our daily lives.

They chronicle milestones, controversies, triumphs and challenges while holding public officials accountable for the decisions they make and their stewardship of tax dollars.

Local journalists provide credible, trustworthy reporting that empowers citizens to make informed decisions and stay connected to the world around them. Their work also creates a lasting record that future generations can look back on to better understand the past and help shape a stronger future.

Continue reading the op-ed by PNA President & CEO Bill Cotter here:https://panewsmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/National_Newspaper_Week2026/2026-PNA-National-Newspaper-Week-Op-ed_-002.pdf

10/05/2026

PNA President and CEO William Cotter joined news media leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C., for the News Media Alliance Fly-In and America's Newsroom Senior Leadership Conference.

During visits on Capitol Hill, Cotter met with Talia Katz, legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick; Keanu Reynolds-Rivera, legislative director for U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon; and Trevor McLean, legislative counsel for U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean. Discussions focused on several issues affecting Pennsylvania news publishers, including the Stealth Bot Prohibition Act (H.R. 9915), ongoing postal challenges and the importance of maintaining tariff exemptions for newsprint and printing plates.

The bipartisan Stealth Bot Prohibition Act would require certain AI bots that crawl websites to identify themselves and disclose their purpose, providing greater transparency and helping publishers protect their content.

Cotter also attended the News/Media Alliance’s Support Journalism Awards & Chairman’s Dinner and participated in discussions with industry and press association leaders about public policy issues affecting journalism and news publishers nationwide.

10/03/2026

PNA Hall of Fame member John M. Baer, whose distinguished career as a reporter, broadcaster and columnist covering the Pennsylvania Capitol spanned more than half a century and 10 gubernatorial administrations, died Sept. 24 at his home in New Cumberland.

Read more about Baer’s life and career: https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2026/09/john-baer-chronicler-of-capitol-politics-for-a-half-century-dies-at-79.html?gift=2481d97c-ed87-490b-b06a-77625e3452d0

The Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents’ Association, the statehouse press corps organization, recently commemorated his mentorship to young journalists and contributions to its Gridiron program by naming its summer internship program the John Baer Legislative Reporting Internships in his honor.

He also founded the Pennsylvania Press Club, which hosts a monthly luncheon in Harrisburg that features prominent Pennsylvanians and newsmakers as its speakers.

On a personal note, Jan Murphy, PNA director of government affairs, worked alongside Baer in the state Capitol newsroom for two decades and had admired his Philadelphia Daily News columns long before becoming his colleague. She remembers his deep institutional knowledge of the Capitol, the respect he earned across the political spectrum, his wry sense of humor and his fearlessness in holding politicians accountable when the facts warranted it.

“John’s contribution to the coverage of Pennsylvania politics and government was distinctive and invaluable,” Murphy said. “More importantly to me, he was a friend, and he will be sorely missed.”

Baer, a celebrated Pennsylvania political journalist known for his sharp wit and accountability reporting, died after a battle with cancer.

10/02/2026

National Newspaper Week begins Sunday! Prepare your newsroom with an exclusive series of resources. Please note: all assets must run between Oct. 4-10, 2026 only.

Download a print and digital ad campaign that recognizes the importance of newspapers to a community’s well-being here.
https://panewsmedia.org/national-newspaper-week-3/

Download an op-ed from PNA President and CEO William Cotter here.
https://panewsmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/National_Newspaper_Week2026/2026-PNA-National-Newspaper-Week-Op-ed_-002.pdf

If you have any questions or need any assistance, please email [email protected].

10/02/2026

📣 Today is the final day to register for PNA’s Annual General Membership Meeting on Friday, Oct. 9. All PNA members are encouraged to attend!

Register before 5 p.m. at https://panewsmedia.org/event/2026-general-membership-meeting/

Butler Eagle publisher Tammy Schuey, Latrobe Bulletin interim publisher Margaret Weaver of Sample News Group, former Butler Eagle photographer Morgan Phillips, Butler Eagle assignment editor Tracy Leturgey and Butler Eagle managing editor Donna Sybert pose for a photo as Weaver and Phillips were named as the PNA's Newspaper Heroes of the Year.