In a truly historic move, The Boston Globe has suspended its printed newspaper for the first time in over a century and a half. This unprecedented decision was forced by a monstrous blizzard engulfing the northeastern United States, creating conditions so severe that safe delivery became impossible.
A Legacy of Continuity Broken by Extreme Weather
For more than 153 years, through rain, snow, wars, and global pandemics, The Boston Globe's daily print edition has been a steadfast presence. However, on Monday, the paper's publisher made the extraordinary call to let the presses fall silent. Vice president of print operations Josh Russell explained the gravity of the situation to the Globe's own reporters, stating the decision was not taken lightly.
"We're not confident that even if we got a crew in tonight, that we could get the papers on our trucks safely," Russell said. "We weren't confident that that last mile would be doable."
Unprecedented in the Publication's History
While industrial action halted production in the 1950s and 60s, and the infamous Blizzard of 1978 caused printed editions to be stranded in snow less than a mile from the press, this marks the first instance in the Globe's entire history where executives have voluntarily chosen not to print a daily edition. The decision underscores the extreme nature of the current storm.
The blizzard has paralyzed the region, with millions in New York City and much of New England under road travel bans and severe weather warnings. Heavy snowfall at rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour created whiteout conditions, leaving over 600,000 people without power and causing thousands of flight cancellations.
Logistical Nightmare at the Printing Plant
The Globe's printworks in Taunton, Massachusetts, found itself at the epicenter of the storm. With nearly three feet of snow burying the ground in some areas, the paper was already unable to deliver approximately 75 percent of Monday morning's editions. The situation on the ground was dire.
Another company executive, Chris Johnson, described a harrowing journey to the plant, which took nearly two hours even in a four-wheel drive vehicle. First he got stuck, then his rescuer got stuck, and then they both ran into a half-buried fire truck stuck on the railroad tracks, illustrating the insurmountable delivery challenges.
Impact on Publication and Subscribers
Although the Tuesday edition will be written and laid out as usual, it will only reach subscribers on Wednesday and will not be available in retail stores. Russell noted that in previous storms, there was "no question" about printers and drivers reporting for duty, highlighting how this event differs from all past weather disruptions.
Founded in 1872, The Boston Globe is one of America's most storied news organizations, renowned for its Spotlight investigative unit. The unit's exposure of widespread child sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic clergy was famously adapted into the 2015 Oscar-winning film Spotlight. This temporary halt to its print legacy, driven purely by safety concerns during an extreme weather event, adds a new chapter to its long and distinguished history.
