After 50 Years, Columbus Newspaper Closes its Doors

Those who read and work in local media are experiencing a loss in Columbus. After 50 years, the Columbus Messenger, a local news source, is ceasing publication immediately.

The Columbus Messenger, a print newspaper that later evolved to add an online news component, began in 1974. The paper grew over the decades, branching out to cover several Columbus and Central Ohio communities with multiple publications, including: Grove City Messenger, Groveport Messenger, Madison County Messenger, South/Canal Winchester Messenger, and the Westside Messenger.

“The current economic climate and the changing nature of the newspaper industry, including how people get their news and how advertisers reach their customers, has adversely impacted our ability to continue publishing,” said Phil Daubel, owner and publisher of the Columbus Messenger Newspapers. “The decreasing advertising revenue and our accompanying rising expenses make it no longer economically feasible for our newspapers to continue.”

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The Columbus Messenger family is full of staff, writers, and photographers who live in the communities reported on, making the Messenger a hyper-local publication. The paper and website were known for local small business features, photographs, and local advertising.

The final publication was April 6, 2025, as the newspaper closes on April 11. The latest and last issue from the Columbus Messenger family can be found for free at small businesses around the communities they serve.

Want to read more? Check out our print publication, (614) Magazine. Learn where you can find a free copy of our new June issue here!

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