List of Newspapers in Utah

Utah, the Beehive State, blends stunning red rock landscapes, world-class skiing in the Wasatch Mountains, a thriving tech sector in "Silicon Slopes," and a strong cultural heritage tied to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From the bustling Wasatch Front (Salt Lake City to Provo) to rural southern counties and the vast Great Basin, Utah's newspapers deliver essential local news, investigative journalism, community stories, and coverage of key issues like water rights, outdoor recreation, education, politics in the state capital, and economic growth. If you're searching for "Utah newspapers list," "Utah news sites with URLs," "daily newspapers in Utah 2026," or "best local papers in Utah," this SEO-optimized, in-depth guide provides a complete Utah all newspaper list with URLs, drawing from sources like the Utah Press Association, Utah Digital Newspapers, Wikipedia, and recent media directories.

Utah's media scene features major dailies with statewide influence, regional papers serving metro areas like Ogden and St. George, and numerous community weeklies that focus on hyper-local events in the state's 29 counties. With a population over 3.4 million and rapid growth in areas like Washington County, print circulation has declined—major titles like the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune now emphasize digital subscriptions and audiences—but online platforms thrive, with sites like sltrib.com and deseret.com drawing significant traffic. This 3000+ word article explores history, categories, major titles with URLs, regional outlets, digital innovations, and future trends, serving as your essential resource for "Utah media directory" or "Utah local news URLs" in 2026.

The Rich History of Newspapers in Utah

Utah's journalistic tradition is deeply rooted in its unique settlement history, beginning with Mormon pioneers in 1847. The state's first newspaper, the Deseret News, launched on June 15, 1850, in Salt Lake City, edited by Willard Richards under Brigham Young's direction. Printed on a small hand-press shipped from the East, it served as an official organ for church and territorial news, promoting settlement, agriculture, and moral guidance. Early issues covered everything from irrigation projects to warnings about Native American relations, setting a template for community-focused journalism.

The territorial era (1850–1896) saw partisan and religious press flourish. The Salt Lake Tribune began in 1871 as a non-Mormon, anti-polygamy voice (Utah Magazine precursor), evolving into a rival to the Deseret News. This competition fostered diverse viewpoints amid tensions over polygamy, federal control, and statehood (achieved 1896). Mining booms in Park City and southern Utah spawned titles like the Park Record (1880), while rural areas developed weeklies tied to agriculture and railroads.

The 20th century brought professionalization. The Deseret News and Tribune covered World War I/II, the Great Depression, and post-war growth. The Ogden Standard-Examiner (merged titles from 1879) became northern Utah's voice. Investigative journalism gained prominence; the Tribune won Pulitzers for environmental and political reporting. The 1990s digital shift accelerated online editions, while consolidation and declining print affected smaller papers.

Utah Digital Newspapers (newspapers.lib.utah.edu), hosted by the University of Utah's J. Willard Marriott Library, preserves over 9 million pages from 400+ titles (1850–2023+), a treasure for historians. Recent changes include the Tribune's nonprofit transition (2019), paywall experiments, and expansions like free print editions in southern Utah (2025). In 2026, Utah journalism balances legacy trust with digital adaptation amid rapid population growth and issues like housing affordability and Great Salt Lake decline.

Categories of Utah Newspapers

Utah newspapers categorize by frequency, scope, and ownership. Major dailies provide statewide/metro coverage, regionals serve cities like Ogden and Provo, and weeklies dominate rural counties. Ownership includes Deseret News (Church-affiliated), Huntsman Family (Tribune), Adams Publishing Group, and independents. Most are English; some include community or bilingual elements.

Major Daily Newspapers in Utah

These reach broad audiences, with strong digital focus in 2026.

The Salt Lake Tribune

• Description: Utah's independent voice, Pulitzer-winning investigative, politics, environment, sports.
• Location/Area Served: Salt Lake City/Wasatch Front
• Ownership/Notes: Huntsman Family Investments (nonprofit model)

Deseret News

• Description: Faith-based, family-oriented, covers Utah news, LDS Church, business, lifestyle.
• Location/Area Served: Salt Lake City/statewide
• Ownership/Notes: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Standard-Examiner

• Description: Northern Utah hub, Ogden metro, community, crime, education.
• Location/Area Served: Ogden/Weber-Davis Counties
• Ownership/Notes: Adams Publishing Group

Daily Herald

• Description: Utah County focus, Provo/Orem, BYU, tech, local government.
• Location/Area Served: Provo/Utah County
• Ownership/Notes: Ogden Newspapers

The Spectrum

• Description: Southern Utah, St. George growth, tourism, Washington County.
• Location/Area Served: St. George
• Ownership/Notes: Gannett

Herald Journal

• Description: Cache Valley, Logan, Utah State University, agriculture.
• Location/Area Served: Logan
• Ownership/Notes: Adams Publishing Group