220 YEAR OLD NEWSPAPER RENAMED TO REFLECT GROWTH AND REGIONAL STATUS
WHILE FURTHER SUPPORTING THE LOCAL EASTERN CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY

Formerly Known as the “Norwich Bulletin, Multimedia News Source Now Called, “The Bulletin”
Serves 37 Communities and Produces Daily Editions for Both Northeastern and Southeastern Connecticut

Norwich, CT:  Paul Provost, Publisher of the former Norwich Bulletin, today announced the newspaper’s name change to The Bulletin.  This move is the newest phase in the newspaper’s continued progression; just over a year ago, the Norwich Bulletin started producing two editions a day, one for northeastern Connecticut and one for southeastern Connecticut.  And, over the course of 2010 the Norwich Bulletin added 27% more editorial staff while other newspapers suffered through furloughs and layoffs. 

“The new name is a change that’s overdue and makes perfect sense,” says Provost.  “Our newspaper serves 37 communities throughout Eastern Connecticut, and as a regional multimedia company we felt our name should reflect all of our cities and towns.  We have steadily moved toward this moment, and it reflects a natural evolution in the long and proud history of this newspaper,” Provost added.

Along with the name change comes many physical improvements to the newspaper.  Top and center on the front page now reads, “Serving Eastern Connecticut Since 1791,” which is printed directly above the publication’s new moniker set in old English type and stated simply, The Bulletin.  The newspaper has a cleaner, vibrant look with more white space in the masthead, and a wider date band with larger, upper-case type.  Featured articles are called out for ease of navigation, with photos, bold titles and section and page numbers prominently displayed.

Although the name is changing, The Bulletin remains steadfast in its commitment to the eastern Connecticut community.  For example, The Bulletin recently became a Platinum Sponsor of the Eastern Connecticut Conference (ECC) which includes 18 public and private high schools in the region.  In addition to providing much needed funding for high school athletic competitions, leadership programs and educational initiatives, the newspaper now publishes an article called “ECC World” every Tuesday featuring news stories and photographs submitted by student reporters. 

Among many other charitable and non-profit programs and sponsorships, The Bulletin’s Tommy Toy Fund, now in its 37th year, serves almost 1,900 families and distributes toys to over 5,000 children across eastern Connecticut.  Additionally, The Bulletin is a Regional Benefactor of The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, Chairman’s Circle Member of the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce, member of Mystic and Northeast Connecticut Chambers and the Colchester Business Association.

The newspaper was first published on November 29, 1791 as the Weekly Register. It became known as the Chelsea Courier in 1796, named for the downtown Norwich district known as Chelsea.  In 1860, the Courier merged with the Norwich Morning Bulletin.  Editor Isaac Bromley suggested the name “Bulletin” as being synonymous with “the latest news.”  Today readers view the latest breaking local news not only in print, but via the newspaper’s website, www.norwichbulletin.com, which welcomes 250,000 visitors and receives more than 3 million page views every month.

The Bulletin is owned by Gatehouse Media, a national publishing company based in Fairport, New York, with 90 daily newspapers, hundreds of weeklies and more than 250 locally focused web sites.

The Bulletin is located at 66 Franklin Street in Norwich, CT 06360
Phone: (860) 887-9211
www.norwichbulletin.com