The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), a major newspaper serving Atlanta and the Southeast for over 157 years, announced in August 2025 that it would end its printed edition and transition to a fully digital-only model starting January 1, 2026.
The final print edition was published on December 31, 2025 — marking the end of physical newspaper production after more than a century and a half. This shift was driven by rapid changes in media consumption, with far more readers engaging via digital platforms (website, app, podcasts, video) than print.
Publisher Andrew Morse noted in his announcement that digital audiences had already surpassed print significantly, and the move allows the AJC to focus resources on expanding journalism, including new reporting hires, podcasts, newsletters, and video content.
- Historical Context — The AJC traces its roots to The Atlanta Constitution (founded 1868) and The Atlanta Journal (1883), which merged in 2001. It was owned by Cox Enterprises since the 1930s/1950s.
- Subscriber Impact — At the time of the announcement, the AJC had about 115,000 total paid subscribers, with roughly 75,000 digital-only and around 40,000 still receiving print. The goal was to grow digital subscribers to 500,000.
- What Continues — The AJC remains active with daily journalism on AJC.com, a new/updated mobile app, an ePaper replica (digital version of the print layout), newsletters, podcasts, and more. Print subscribers were encouraged to transition to digital plans (e.g., $9.99/month or $99/year).
- Job Impact — The change resulted in the elimination of about 30 full- and part-time roles related to print design and distribution.
- Broader Significance — This made Atlanta the largest U.S. metro area without a major daily printed newspaper, though smaller local papers continue. The decision reflects industry trends: declining print circulation (from over 600,000 at its peak in the early 2000s) and the need to adapt to digital revenue and audience growth.
The AJC emphasized that it is not stepping away from local journalism but evolving to deliver it more effectively in a digital era.