TEMPE, AZ — Times Media Group announced today that beginning Feb. 4, 2024, it will re-launch Tempe’s original newspaper, The Tempe Daily News. The new incarnation of the paper will be called The Tempe Tribune. In addition to 20,000 weekly print copies, the paper will be available on the web at TempeNews.com. It will be published every Sunday, delivering the latest Tempe news to more than 45,000 weekly readers.
The Tempe Daily News was created in 1887, when Curt Miller purchased what was then the 20-month-old Salt River Valley News and changed its name to the Tempe Daily News. The paper was then published uninterrupted for 122 years — until publication ceased in 2009. Over the years, the paper was part of various ownership groups, the final being the East Valley Tribune, which Times Media Group acquired in 2016.
“It is an honor for me to be a part of bringing back Tempe’s original newspaper. Having grown up in the Valley and as a graduate of ASU, I understand the responsibility and importance of bringing back a paper that focuses solely on the news of the Tempe community,” said Steve Strickbine, president of Times Media Group, which owns The Tempe Tribune and more than 60 other community news publications across the Valley, Tucson and Southern California.
The Tempe Tribune will be home delivered every Sunday to more than 20,000 readers in various neighborhoods across the city. The paper’s digital edition will be sent to more than 25,000 readers via email every Saturday evening. Residents who would like to sign up for a free digital edition should visit www.tempenews.com. The paper will also be available for free pick up at more than 250 locations throughout the city.
“I have been asked in recent years many times if or when we might bring back a dedicated weekly paper to the Tempe community. The timing just hadn’t worked up until now,” said Strickbine. “I can’t tell you how many people from all over Tempe have expressed their excitement about having a community news platform dedicated to their community. We share that excitement.”
Tempe Mayor Corey Woods echoed Strickbine’s excitement. "As a growing city, Tempe merits more local news coverage,” said Woods. “I'm excited to see The Tempe Tribune coming back to town and joining our growing ranks of media outlets. More coverage only adds to our transparency and keeps our residents and business owners better informed."
Times Media Group was founded in the Valley in 1997. It has become nationally known in recent years for acquiring and successfully resuscitating news publications that have fallen on difficult times. Now with more than 25 weekly publications and numerous other publications and magazines, the company plans to continue to grow through acquisition when the right opportunities present themselves.
“In the 25 years I have been in the business, I have seen many news groups that provided important information to communities disappear,” said Strickbine. “I am more committed than ever to keeping community news alive and to bringing great stories to local residents. I hope our readers will tell a friend and support our advertisers, so the new paper thrives and we can keep telling the story of Tempe for its residents and businesses.”
