online newspaper

The digital evolution of traditional journalism began in the early 1990s as the commercial internet expanded. This format encompasses two distinct types of entities: standalone digital-native publications like The Daily Beast and the online editions of legacy print newspapers such as The New York Times that transitioned to web-first models. By the mid-2000s, major dailies established separate web operations, eventually evolving into brands where print circulation became secondary or non-existent.

Recent trends show a significant acceleration toward full digital conversion. In September 2026, MLive announced a complete pivot to digital formats, ending all printed editions by December 2026. Conversely, some niche or community papers are experimenting with hybrid models, such as the New Haven newspaper which returned to print after 13 years in a revamped format in late 2026. [edit]