The owners of the Chesterfield Observer have announced their decision to close the weekly newspaper.
The Feb. 1 issue will be the newspaper’s last edition, according to owners Carol and Frank McCracken. The announcement was made in the Jan. 25 edition of the Chesterfield Observer.
“For over 27 years, the Chesterfield Observer has been the fabric of the community. We are heartbroken we are no longer able to report the local news and goings-on,” owner Carol McCracken said via email.
A recent front page from the Chesterfield Observer, which announced its last edition will be Feb. 1.
The independently run newspaper covers Chesterfield County and currently distributes 60,000 copies a week. The local paper employs six full-time staff and three part-time staff.
The owners cited a significant decline in advertising revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The McCrackens reported better-than-average financial performance in 2018 and 2019, but said the newspaper’s advertising base never rebounded after the pandemic began in 2020.
A recent front page from the Chesterfield Observer, which announced its last edition will be Feb. 1.
In 2021, supply-chain stresses brought an 8% increase in the cost of newsprint, and other production costs more than doubled, financially prohibiting the Observer’s ability to publish the annual Guide to Chesterfield, a key revenue generator, the owners said in a statement.
The owners also said “the financial realities largely caused by the 2020 pandemic had become insurmountable” and they decided to shutter the newspaper.
Greg Pearson founded the Observer in 1995 and ran it until 2014.
“I birthed the Observer in 1995 and it grew to become the largest circulation weekly newspaper in Virginia, with almost 71,000 copies in 2014 when I sold it. I feel as if I have lost a child,” Pearson said.
The closure of another local newspaper highlights severe ongoing declines in local journalism. According to a study from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications released in late June, the United States continues to see newspapers die at the rate of two per week.
According to the report, the country had 6,377 newspapers at the end of May, down from 8,891 in 2005. An estimated 75,000 journalists worked in newspapers in 2006, which was down to 31,000 in 2022, the report said in June. The study also reported that annual newspaper revenue dropped from $50 billion to $21 billion in the same period.
According to an Associated Press story, “360 newspapers have shut down since the end of 2019, all but 24 of them weeklies serving small communities.”
In 2019, the Virginia Press Association awarded the Chesterfield Observer the grand sweepstakes prize for overall excellence for a large weekly newspaper in Virginia.
“We greatly appreciate the support over the years,” Carol McCracken said on Tuesday. “We will very much miss the opportunity to bring you the local journalism that you have come to love and expect weekly.”
17 archive photos of Regency Mall
05-27-1987: Regency Mall food court.
09-22-1983: Regency Mall
04-04-1976: Shoppers at newly-opened Regency Mall.
05-27-1987: Regency Food Park
10-02-1975 (cutline): The first two stores to open at Regency Square Shopping Center in western Henrico County yesterday were Sears, Roebuck and Co, and Thalhimer Brothers, Inc. Developer Leonard L. Farber said another 30 retailers will join the two department store when the center has its grand opening Oct. 15. When the center is comleted next year, it will have about 90 stores.
10-03-1987: Regency Mall food court
12-24-1990: Regency Mall holiday decorations.
11-23-1990: Aerial of Regency Square Mall.
02-16-1987: Renovation of Regency Square Mall was underway.
05-22-1987 (cutline): Regency Square officially opened its Food Park yesterday and it didn't take customers long to sample the food of the 11 eateries that are clustered on the mall's lower level between Miller & Rhoads and Sears, Roebuck and Co. The park, which can accomodate up to 450 diners, is the first phase of the Henrico County mall's $5 million renovation set for completion in September.
10-15-1975: Inside of Regency Square Mall after grand opening.
10-02-1975: Regency Square Mall filled with shoppers after grand opening.
10-15-1975: Regency Mall
03-29-1975 (cutline): Most of the steel appears to be up at the new Regency Square shopping center in western Henrico County. The building farthest along toward completion at lower left of picture is Thalhimers' department store. The 800,000-square-foot center will be the largest regional center in the area. It is scheduled to be completed this fall. The road at top of picture is Quioccasin Road.
07-26-1974: Ground breaking of Regency Mall.
07-26-1974: Ground breaking of Regency Mall.
07-05-1974 (cutline): Regency Sqaure, a $50 million project on 48 acres at the southwest corner of Parham and Quioccasin roads, will be the largest shipping center in the Richmond area with more than 100 stores.
Colleen Curran
Colleen Curran is the living editor for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. She also covers arts and entertainment, pop culture and social media.
