Atlanta Journal-Constitution to End Print Edition, Go Fully Digital in 2026

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) has announced it will print its last physical edition on December 31, 2025, marking the end of a 157-year print tradition. Beginning January 1, 2026, the paper will transition to a digital-only format as part of a broader effort to adapt to changing reader habits and invest more deeply in digital journalism.

AJC President and Publisher Andrew Morse said the move is designed to position the paper as a “modern media company.” He noted that digital readership has already surpassed print circulation, and the shift is “only accelerating.”

“Embracing our digital future means we can focus every resource and every ounce of energy on producing world-class journalism and delivering it in the most impactful way,” Morse said in a letter to readers.

Though the print edition will end, the AJC will continue to produce an ePaper and plans to launch a new app this fall. Over the past two years, the publication has expanded its digital footprint with newsletters, podcasts, video content, and new offices in Athens, Macon, and Savannah to broaden its reach across Georgia.

Alex Taylor, chair and CEO of Cox Enterprises, the AJC’s parent company, called the decision “an important step in the evolution of the AJC.” He acknowledged the nostalgia of the print edition but praised the move as vital to sustaining strong journalism.

The AJC joins a growing list of publications discontinuing print amid declining circulation, rising production costs, and shrinking advertising revenues. Earlier this year, New Jersey’s Star-Ledger ended its print edition, while Iowa’s Dubuque Telegraph Herald and The Cedar Rapids Gazette reduced printing to just three days a week.

Still, some outlets are bucking the trend. Satirical paper The Onion successfully revived its print edition in 2024, and The Spectator recently announced it would double the print output of its U.S. edition.

For the AJC, the decision signals a clear bet on the future of journalism being digital-first.

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