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Boston Globe postpones print edition for first time, due to blizzard
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Boston Globe postpones print edition for first time, due to blizzard

#Boston Globe #Snowstorm #Blizzards #Print Media #Newspaper History #Massachusetts #News Consumption #Digital Transformation

📌 Key Takeaways

  • The Boston Globe postponed printing for the first time in its 153-year history due to a record snowstorm
  • Only 25% of Monday's papers were delivered, and Tuesday's paper would be delivered with Wednesday's edition
  • The decision was made because conditions made it unsafe for staff to reach the printing facility and for delivery trucks to operate
  • This is the first time management has halted production since the newspaper's founding in 1872

📖 Full Retelling

The Boston Globe postponed printing its daily newspaper for the first time in its 153-year history on February 24, 2026, in response to a record-setting snowstorm that prevented staff from safely reaching the printing press in Taunton, Massachusetts. The unprecedented decision came as parts of Bristol County recorded 32 inches of snow by Monday night, with conditions deemed too dangerous for both printing staff and delivery personnel. 'For more than 153 years, the press workers of The Boston Globe have overcome the elements, technical snafus, and global pandemics to print a daily newspaper,' the paper stated in an article on its website explaining the historic disruption. Boston Globe Media Vice President of Print Operations Josh Russell emphasized the gravity of the decision, noting that management wasn't confident they could safely get papers on delivery trucks even if a crew managed to reach the printing facility. 'We don't take the decision lightly,' Russell was quoted as saying. 'We're not confident that even if we got a crew in tonight, that we could get the papers on our trucks safely. We weren't confident that that last mile would be doable.' The storm had already severely impacted Monday's deliveries, with only 25% of papers successfully reaching subscribers, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the weather event. The postponement marks the first time Globe management has called off daily production since the newspaper's founding in 1872, though labor strikes halted printing several times during the 1950s and 1960s. During another record-setting blizzard in 1978, the Globe did manage to print a few thousand copies, but delivery trucks couldn't travel more than a mile or two from the building due to massive snow accumulations. Monday's blizzard not only affected Massachusetts but also set snowfall records in nearby Rhode Island, where T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick received nearly 38 inches, breaking a 1978 record. The historic pause in publication comes as readers increasingly rely on digital platforms for news. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, only 7% of U.S. adults often get their news from printed newspapers or magazines, compared to 56% who prefer smartphones, computers, or tablets. This shift in consumption patterns may make the temporary suspension of print operations less impactful for many readers, though the decision remains a significant milestone in the newspaper's long and storied history.

🏷️ Themes

Weather Impact, Media Evolution, Historical Milestone

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The Boston Globe

American daily newspaper

The Boston Globe, also known locally as the Globe, is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe is the oldest and largest daily newspaper in Boston and tenth-largest newspaper by print circulation in the United States of America as of 2023. Founded in 1...

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Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This event is significant because it marks the first time in the Boston Globe's 153-year history that a print edition has been postponed due to weather, highlighting the extreme severity of the blizzard. It also underscores the logistical vulnerabilities of physical newspaper distribution in the digital age, even for a historic publication.

Context & Background

  • The Boston Globe was founded in 1872 and has printed daily for 153 years
  • Printing was halted previously only by labor strikes in the 1950s and 1960s
  • The paper continued printing during a major blizzard in 1978, though deliveries were severely limited
  • The printing plant is located in Taunton, Massachusetts, which received over 30 inches of snow
  • Only 7% of U.S. adults often get news from print newspapers according to a 2025 Pew survey

What Happens Next

Print subscribers will receive the Tuesday edition along with the Wednesday edition on Wednesday. The newspaper will resume its normal printing schedule once the blizzard conditions subside and it is safe for staff to return to the plant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the print edition postponed?

Executives determined that blizzard conditions made it impossible for staff to safely reach the printing plant and for delivery trucks to operate.

Will subscribers get the missed edition?

Yes, Tuesday's print edition will be delivered with Wednesday's edition on Wednesday.

Has this ever happened before?

No, this is the first time in the newspaper's 153-year history that printing has been postponed due to weather.

Original Source
U.S. Boston Globe postpones printing of paper for first time in 153 years, due to blizzard February 24, 2026 / 2:15 AM EST / CBS/AP Add CBS News on Google A record-setting snowstorm has prompted managers of The Boston Globe to postpone the printing of their daily newspaper for the first time in its history. "For more than 153 years, the press workers of The Boston Globe have overcome the elements, technical snafus, and global pandemics to print a daily newspaper," the paper said in an article on its website . "But in an unprecedented decision, executives determined that the conditions during Monday's blizzard made it impossible to print and deliver a paper Tuesday morning." The Globe said print subscribers will get Tuesday's paper delivered on Wednesday along with Wednesday's edition. "We don't take the decision lightly," the article quotes Boston Globe Media Vice President of Print Operations Josh Russell as saying. "We're not confident that even if we got a crew in tonight, that we could get the papers on our trucks safely. We weren't confident that that last mile would be doable." The storm also cut deeply into Monday's deliveries: Only 25 percent of papers reached subscribers, the Globe said. Snow and winds prevented staff from safely getting to the Globe printing plant to print Tuesday's paper, the newspaper said in the article. Parts of Massachusetts' Bristol County, where the Globe's printing press in Taunton is located, had recorded 32 inches of snow by Monday night, the National Weather Service said. Readers are much less reliant on newsprint for their news in today's internet age. A 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center found that only 7% of U.S. adults often got their news from printed newspapers or magazines. That's compared to 56% who said they often got their news from a smartphone, computer or tablet. Tuesday marks the first time Globe management has called off the newspaper's daily production since its 1872 founding. Labor strikes halted printing a ...
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