Serving New Jersey since 1822: Publisher’s reflect as USA marks 250 years

As our nation celebrates 250 years of independence, we are proud to mark our own place in the American story.

For more than two centuries, our newspaper has informed, challenged, and connected generations of readers. Founded on July 13, 1822, as The Bridgetown Museum and New Jersey Advocate, NJTODAY.NEWS has survived wars, economic crises, technological revolutions, and profound social change while remaining committed to the essential mission of local journalism: telling the stories of the communities we serve.

Over the years, the newspaper evolved through numerous name changes, mergers, and ownership transitions. It became the National Advocate, later the Rahway Record, and eventually the Rahway News-Record following the merger of the Rahway News and Rahway Record in 1946.

In 1997, the publication expanded its reach throughout Union County under the ownership of Devine Media Enterprises. In 2006, CMD Media acquired the newspaper, and under Publisher Lisa McCormick, it entered a new era. In 2010, the publication was rebranded as NJTODAY.NET, uniting its print heritage with a growing digital presence.

Today, it continues as NJTODAY.NEWS, serving readers in both print and online formats.

Newspapers have been one of the most effective ways in history to keep people informed about current events.

They’re actually a fairly recent invention, dating back just about four hundred years. The first known general newspaper appeared in Germany in the 1600s, and the concept quickly caught on across Europe.

Our publication also carries forward the legacy of several historic community newspapers, including the News Record, Clark Patriot, Atom Tabloid, South Amboy Citizen, Perth Amboy Gazette, and Amboy Beacon. Together, these publications chronicled the lives, struggles, achievements, and aspirations of New Jersey residents across generations.

The United States was founded on the belief that a free people deserve access to reliable information. That principle remains as important today as it was in 1776.

As New Jersey’s oldest continuously published news journal that is still in publication, we are honored to have served our readers since 1822 and to continue that tradition as America enters its next quarter-millennium.

We recognize that we hold a place in history among the longest-running continuously published journals. We proudly take our place alongside the Hartford Courant in Hartford, Connecticut, which is recognized as the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States, and Gazzetta di Mantova, which is considered the oldest newspaper still in print in the world.

The Hartford Courant, first printed on October 29, 1764, by Thomas Green, predates the United States Declaration of Independence by more than a decade. The Gazzetta di Mantova was first published in Italy in 1664, the year New Jersey transitioned from Dutch territory into an English colony.

“Newspapers are incredibly rich and varied sources for research and instruction in higher education. Just like when they were first published, they still offer something for everyone,” said Sarah Tew, Project Coordinator for the US Caribbean & Florida Digital Newspaper Project. “From hard-hitting political news and crime reporting to comics and classifieds, newspapers contain a staggering quantity of information. As a primary source, an individual issue provides a snapshot of daily living and current events.”

“In this present age of Google, Twitter, and Facebook, it might be hard for many of the younger generations to perceive that for over 200 years, local newspapers were a vital part of almost every city, both large and small, throughout the country,” said Alexander Shipley, a historian who serves as director of museum operations at Merchants & Drovers Tavern Museum Association in Rahway, New Jersey. “Whether published on a daily, bi-weekly, or weekly basis, these papers would eventually evolve and become the sole sources of information that not only presented an account of the important news, but also included the minutiae that made up the fabric of each community.”

On July 13, 1822, Rahway’s first newspaper, The Bridgetown Museum and New Jersey Advocate, was launched as a four-page weekly by editor Smith Edgar, making it one of only eight papers being published in all of New Jersey at the time.

In 1828, the name Bridgetown Museum was dropped from the mast, and the publication became the New Jersey Advocate in what would begin the first of several name changes and mergers in the life of the publication that would eventually become the Rahway News-Record.

In 1997, James Devine, a veteran reporter at the Elizabeth Daily Journal, bought the News-Record, Clark Patriot, Atom Tabloid, and other titles, and by 2002, they were online. Since then, the publications have evolved into NJTODAY.NEWS.

While the methods of delivering the news have changed—from hand-set type and steam presses to websites, smartphones, and social media—our purpose has not.

We remain dedicated to truth, accountability, and public service. We continue to believe that the stories of ordinary people matter, that local communities deserve a voice, and that democracy depends on an informed citizenry.

As America celebrates 250 years, we at NJTODAY.NEWS proudly celebrate more than 200 years of keeping New Jerseyans informed.

Thank you for your trust, your readership, and your support. We look forward to serving future generations with the same dedication that has guided this newspaper since 1822.