Pennsylvania

Benjamin Franklin may have been colonial Pennsylvania's most renowned publisher, but its first was Andrew Bradford, whose American Weekly Mercury, established in 1719, was the third newspaper to appear in the colonies. Founded nine years later, the Pennsylvania Gazette was purchased by Franklin in 1730 and served as the springboard for Poor Richard's Almanack.

During the 1800s, newspapers sprang up in all the major cities and many small communities. By 1880, Pittsburgh had 10 daily newspapers—more than any other city its size. After a series of mergers and closings, however, it is left with only one paper today—the Post-Gazette. Philadelphia has two newspapers, the Inquirer and the Daily News. The Inquirer, founded in 1829, has won numerous awards for its investigative reporting.

In 2002, Pennsylvania had 47 morning newspapers, 36 evening newspapers, and 41 Sunday papers. The following table shows the approximate circulation of some of the leading dailies in 2002:

Farm Journal and Current History, both monthlies, are published in Philadelphia, and there are monthlies named for both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Of more specialized interest are the gardening, nutrition, and health magazines and books from Rodale Press in Emmaus, and automotive guides from the Chilton Co. in Radnor.