List of Newspapers in Oregon

Oregon, the Beaver State, captivates with its dramatic Pacific coastline, towering Cascade volcanoes, lush Willamette Valley farmlands, high-desert expanses in Central and Eastern Oregon, and innovative urban centers like Portland. Newspapers here play a crucial role in connecting communities—from breaking news on wildfire seasons and timber industry shifts to coverage of tech growth in Portland, environmental advocacy for the Columbia River, state politics in Salem, and local high school sports rivalries. If you're searching for "Oregon newspapers list," "Oregon news sites with URLs," "daily newspapers in Oregon 2026," or "best local papers in OR," this SEO-friendly, in-depth guide delivers a complete Oregon all newspaper list with URLs, drawing from reliable sources like Wikipedia's comprehensive list, the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association (ONPA) member directory, the Oregon Blue Book, and recent 2025–2026 media updates.

Oregon's media ecosystem includes major dailies with statewide influence (led by The Oregonian), regional papers serving metros like Eugene and Bend, and numerous community weeklies that preserve hyper-local stories across 36 counties. With a population exceeding 4.2 million and rapid growth in areas like Deschutes and Washington counties, print circulation has declined amid national trends—major titles emphasize digital subscriptions—but online platforms remain robust, with oregonlive.com leading in traffic. This 3000+ word article explores history, categories, major titles with URLs, regional and weekly outlets, digital innovations, and future trends, serving as your essential resource for "Oregon media directory" or "Oregon local news URLs" in 2026.

The Rich History of Newspapers in Oregon

Oregon's journalistic tradition dates to the territorial era, before statehood in 1859. The first newspaper, the Oregon Spectator (1846 in Oregon City), served the provisional government, promoting settlement and debating issues like slavery and land claims. Printed on a small press shipped around Cape Horn, it focused on territorial news and agriculture.

The 1850s–1860s gold rushes and population boom spurred growth. Portland's Oregonian launched in 1850 as a weekly, becoming daily in 1861 and establishing itself as the state's flagship. The Oregon Statesman (1851, Salem) became a political powerhouse. Eastern Oregon papers emerged with mining and ranching; Pendleton's East Oregonian (1875) covered cattle drives and Native American relations.

The late 19th–early 20th centuries saw diversification. The Oregon Journal (1902, Portland) rivaled The Oregonian until merging in 1982. Community papers flourished in mill towns and agricultural valleys. Ethnic press supported immigrant communities: Chinese, Japanese, and Scandinavian papers in Portland.

The 20th century brought professionalization amid Progressive reforms, World Wars, and environmental battles (e.g., Hells Canyon dam debates). The Oregonian won multiple Pulitzers for investigative work on corruption and ecology. The 1990s–2000s digital shift accelerated; The Oregonian launched oregonlive.com early, while smaller papers followed.

Consolidation reshaped the landscape: Advance Publications owns The Oregonian, Gannett some regionals, and Carpenter Media Group acquired many from Pamplin and EO Media in 2025, leading to cuts but preserving some mastheads. Nonprofit and independent models (e.g., Oregon Capital Chronicle) fill gaps. Digitization via Historic Oregon Newspapers (University of Oregon) preserves millions of pages from territorial times.

In 2026, Oregon journalism navigates challenges like news deserts in rural counties and ad revenue shifts, but innovations in digital storytelling, podcasts, and reader-supported reporting sustain coverage of wildfires, housing affordability, and outdoor recreation.

Categories of Oregon Newspapers

Oregon newspapers categorize by frequency, scope, and ownership. Dailies cover statewide/metro news, weeklies dominate rural and suburban areas, and digital platforms aggregate content. Major owners include Advance (The Oregonian), Carpenter Media Group (many community papers post-2025 acquisitions), EO Media (some remaining), and independents. Most are English; some include community or ethnic editions.

Major Daily Newspapers in Oregon

These reach large audiences, often with strong digital presences.

The Oregonian

• Description: Oregon's largest, Pulitzer-winning, covers Portland metro, statewide politics, environment, sports.
• Location/Area Served: Portland/statewide
• Ownership/Notes (2026): Advance Publications