Gloucester County Times
Encyclopedia
The Gloucester County Times (GCT) is a daily newspaper
in Woodbury, New Jersey
, United States
. Its main competitors are The Philadelphia Inquirer
across the Delaware River
in Pennsylvania
, and the Courier-Post in South Jersey
. It is a sister newspaper to both The News of Cumberland County (in Cumberland County
) and Today's Sunbeam
(in Salem County
), as all are owned by Advance Publications.
The newspaper was originally founded as the Woodbury Daily Times in 1897 by publisher J. Frank Wilson with partner C. Walter Hawn. Upon the death of his father on January 1, 1918, J. Frank Wilson Jr. became managing editor. Jack H. Wilson served as managing publisher from 1965 to 1972, during which time the name was changed to the Gloucester County Times and its readership was expanded to cover local news for all of Gloucester County, as well as parts of Burlington and Salem Counties. Coverage was also increased for national and international news. Other important improvements were implemented during this period, including the publication of a full Sunday edition with advertising and entertainment supplements as well as the use of color printing and photography technology. The newspaper was sold by the Wilson family to Harte-Hanks Newspapers, Inc. of San Antonio, TX in 1972. The Times was acquired in 1983 by William Dean Singleton
and Richard Scudder, and became the first paper owned by MediaNews Group
. Advance Publications bought MediaNews' New Jersey and Pennsylvania newspapers in 2000.
There are 24 suburban communities comprising the 328 square miles (849.5 km²) county that is home to 260,000 residents. Situated just outside of Philadelphia, the GCT has easy access to both the city and the Jersey shore communities, which include Ocean City
, Atlantic City
, and Wildwood
, among others.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in Woodbury, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its main competitors are The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
across the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and the Courier-Post in South Jersey
South Jersey
South Jersey comprises the southern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey between the lower Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. The designation is a colloquial one, reflecting not only geographical but perceived cultural differences from the northern part of the state, with no official...
. It is a sister newspaper to both The News of Cumberland County (in Cumberland County
Cumberland County, New Jersey
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population is 156,898. Its county seat is Bridgeton. Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland....
) and Today's Sunbeam
Today's Sunbeam
Today's Sunbeam is a daily newspaper in Salem, New Jersey, United States. Its main competitors are The Philadelphia Inquirer across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, and the Courier-Post and Burlington County Times in South Jersey...
(in Salem County
Salem County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
), as all are owned by Advance Publications.
The newspaper was originally founded as the Woodbury Daily Times in 1897 by publisher J. Frank Wilson with partner C. Walter Hawn. Upon the death of his father on January 1, 1918, J. Frank Wilson Jr. became managing editor. Jack H. Wilson served as managing publisher from 1965 to 1972, during which time the name was changed to the Gloucester County Times and its readership was expanded to cover local news for all of Gloucester County, as well as parts of Burlington and Salem Counties. Coverage was also increased for national and international news. Other important improvements were implemented during this period, including the publication of a full Sunday edition with advertising and entertainment supplements as well as the use of color printing and photography technology. The newspaper was sold by the Wilson family to Harte-Hanks Newspapers, Inc. of San Antonio, TX in 1972. The Times was acquired in 1983 by William Dean Singleton
William Dean Singleton
William Dean Singleton is an American newspaper executive. He is the chairman of the board of directors of the Associated Press, on which he has sat since 1999...
and Richard Scudder, and became the first paper owned by MediaNews Group
MediaNews Group
MediaNews Group, based in Denver, Colorado, is one of the largest newspaper companies in the United States. It is privately owned and operates 56 daily newspapers in 12 states, with combined daily and Sunday circulation of approximately 2.4 million and 2.7 million, respectively...
. Advance Publications bought MediaNews' New Jersey and Pennsylvania newspapers in 2000.
There are 24 suburban communities comprising the 328 square miles (849.5 km²) county that is home to 260,000 residents. Situated just outside of Philadelphia, the GCT has easy access to both the city and the Jersey shore communities, which include Ocean City
Ocean City, New Jersey
Ocean City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is the principal city of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cape May County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 11,701...
, Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, and Wildwood
Wildwood, New Jersey
Wildwood is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area and is a popular summer resort destination. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's year-round population was 5,325...
, among others.