Another Local Twin Cities Newspaper Will Cease Publication

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Another longtime local newspaper in the Twin Cities metro will cease operations this year due to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Southwest Journal, which has published local news about South Minneapolis since 1990, will publish its last issued Dec. 24.

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce that, like many other community businesses, Southwest Journal has been impacted by the Covid pandemic," the newspaper announced Wednesday. "Our advertising sales are down by over 30 percent this year and this latest decline follows a years-long loss in newspaper revenue."

Janis Hall and Terry Gahan built the publication, which they say started in their Linden Hills kitchen, into a 32,000-circulation newspaper.

Hall and Gahan have been trying to sell the Southwest Journal and their magazines — Minnesota Parent and Minnesota Good Age — for more than a year.

"We were hopeful that we had found a buyer, but the deal, which was scheduled to close in March of this year, was called off due to Covid," the owners wrote.

"We are extremely grateful to the dedicated readers who answered our call for donations and sent money over the past six months. Your letters lifted our spirits more than we can tell you. We also received a Paycheck Protection Program loan that got us through several months of expenses, but is running out."

Starting Nov. 1, the newspaper will not employ full-time reporters, but instead use freelancers.

The Southwest Journal is the latest paper in the metro announce its end amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Four other local newspapers, — the Hastings Star Gazette, The Bulletin of Woodbury and Cottage Grove, Eden Prairie Newsm and Lakeshore Weekly News — were shuttered earlier this year due to the crisis.

Also read: 8 Suburban Twin Cities Newspapers Cease Publication