The Forecaster
 | |
 2023 cover page of The Northern Forecaster | |
| Type | Digital newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | Maine Trust for Local News |
| Founded | 1986 (as the Falmouth Forecaster) |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Falmouth, Maine, U.S. |
| Website | PressHerald.com |
The Forecaster is a regional newspaper in southern Maine that is published in a digital format. Originally published weekly and distributed for free, The Forecaster is now a digital paper available through the website of the Portland Press Herald.
History
[edit]The Falmouth Forecaster was launched in Falmouth, Maine, in 1986, as the first of what became multiple editions of the Forecaster.[1]
In 2012, The Forecaster announced a partnership with the Bangor Daily News in which they would collaborate on news-gathering and publish stories across the websites of both newspapers.[2]
Formerly owned by MaineToday Media,[3] the paper and its editions were sold to the Maine Trust for Local News in August 2023.[4] In March 2025, the paper's owners announced all Forecaster papers would cease printing and become digital only.[5] No reporting positions were cut during the process,[6] which came during a series of layoffs within the Maine Trust.[7]
Following the change, only two editions remain available on the PressHerald.com website: the Portland and Northern editions.[8][9] The former webpage of The Southern Forecaster refers readers to the Scarborough Leader and South Portland Sentry (weekly papers operated by the trust's Mainely Media network),[10] while The Coastal Journal Edition Forecaster now redirects readers to The Times Record for Midcoast Maine news.[11] The remaining Forecasters are no longer free to read, as digital content by the Portland Press Herald requires a subscription to access.[12]
Editions
[edit]It published several different editions, collectively known as The Forecasters,[13] including:[14]
- The Portland Forecaster, covering the city of Portland;
- The Northern Forecaster, covering the towns north of Portland (Falmouth, Cumberland, North Yarmouth, Yarmouth, Freeport and Chebeague);
- The Southern Forecaster, covering the towns south of Portland (South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth);
- and The Coastal Journal Edition Forecaster, covering towns farther east along the coast, including Brunswick, Topsham, Bath and Harpswell.
The Mid-Coast Forecaster was aimed at the same towns as what is now the Coastal Journal Edition, but was merged with the Coastal Journal in 2019 to form the Coastal Journal Edition Forecaster.[15]
The Southern Forecaster and Coastal Journal Edition Forecaster were discontinued amid layoffs and cuts to editions of newspapers owned by the Maine Trust for Local News (see § History above).
References
[edit]- ^ Mehlsak, Mo (July 27, 2017). "This news whole is greater than its parts". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ "The Forecaster and Bangor Daily News announce collaboration". Portland Press Herald. July 25, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ "Nonprofit to buy more than 20 newspapers in Maine including Portland Press Herald". Spectrum News. Associated Press. July 11, 2023.
- ^ Ohm, Rachel (August 1, 2023). "Sale of Maine newspapers to national nonprofit is finalized". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ^ Russell, Eric (March 4, 2025). "Maine Trust for Local News will reduce some print editions, lay off workers". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
- ^ "Forecaster bids farewell to print, embraces digital future to enhance news coverage". CBS 13 News. April 15, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ O'Brien, Kathleen (March 4, 2025). "Maine Trust for Local News to layoff 49 employees and reduce print publications". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ "The Forecaster". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ McCrea, Nick (March 27, 2025). "Southern Maine ePapers debut as digital news products". Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ "Southern Forecaster". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ "Coastal Journal". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ "Subscription Plans". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ "Masthead Maine to offer one-stop ad buying". The Ellsworth American. January 11, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ "Weekly Newspapers". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ Mehlsak, Mo (March 1, 2019). "A new beginning for The Forecaster, Coastal Journal". Portland Press Herald.
External links
[edit]  | This article about a Maine newspaper is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |