The State Newspaper

What The State Newspaper does

The State Media Company, operating as The State Newspaper, is a regional daily newspaper founded in 1891 that serves Columbia, South Carolina, and the broader Midlands region. The company is a subsidiary of McClatchy, which has been privately held by Chatham Asset Management since 2020. The State operates a digital-first content platform at thestate.com supplemented by mobile applications, a digital e-edition, and traditional print home delivery. Its content spans local news, crime, weather, politics, sports, and entertainment, with several dedicated sub-brands including GoGamecocks (University of South Carolina athletics coverage), SCPolitics.com (state political watchdog journalism), Reality Check (fact-checking series), GoColumbia (entertainment and lifestyle), and a Money section for personal finance.

The business operates a multi-stream revenue model combining digital and print subscriptions with multiple advertising categories. Subscription tiers include a $1.99 first-month promotional rate then $15.99/month, an annual plan at $159.99/year, and limited-time 99¢ for 6 months promotions. Advertising revenue is generated through display ads, sponsored content (BrandPoint), classifieds and job postings, obituary listings (via Legacy.com), and political/advocacy advertising. Distribution channels include the website, iOS/Android apps, e-edition, newsletters (15+ topic-specific lists), social media presence, and a Newspapers.com archive partnership. The product architecture is a unified content platform with topical verticals rather than a modular technology product. Management is led by President and Editor Brian Tolley and VP of Advertising Michelle Long.

The State holds no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, patents, or proprietary technology products. Its competitive positioning rests on 130+ years of regional brand equity, a dedicated USC athletics audience through GoGamecocks, and integrated McClatchy back-office infrastructure for classifieds and advertising sales. Customer segments are consumer-facing local residents and SMB advertisers with no enterprise concentration, and geographic scope is confined to South Carolina.

Name

The State Newspaper

Legal name

The State Media Company

Website

https://thestate.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The State Newspaper is a regional daily newspaper and digital news platform serving Columbia, South Carolina and the Midlands region. Founded in 1891 and now a subsidiary of McClatchy (owned by Chatham Asset Management), it generates revenue through digital and print subscriptions, advertising, sponsored content, and classifieds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Newspaper and Digital News Media

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (51311), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital Newsstand & Aggregation Platforms (Magazine/News Apps, Bundles) (MPAJAKAE)

Keywords

• Local newspaper
• Digital news subscriptions
• Sports journalism
• Newsletter publishing
• Classified advertising

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Digital Subscriptions: Monthly and annual digital subscription plans providing unlimited access to website content, mobile apps, and e-edition. Auto-renewal model with rate increases at renewal.
2. Print Subscriptions: Home delivery print newspaper subscriptions available as add-on or standalone service.
3. Advertising: Display advertising, classified ads, obituaries, and celebration ads placed by individuals and businesses.
4. Sponsored Content: Paid content sections including BrandPoint sponsored articles, family features, and promotional content.
5. Classified Advertising: Job postings, legal notices, marketplace classifieds, and celebration ads.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The State publishes local and regional news, sports, politics, weather, entertainment, and personal finance content for Columbia, SC and the South Carolina Midlands through a digital-first platform (thestate.com), iOS/Android mobile apps, an e-edition, and a print newspaper. It sells recurring digital and print subscriptions to consumers and monetizes audiences through display advertising, sponsored BrandPoint content, classifieds, job postings, and obituary placement services. Dedicated sub-brands such as GoGamecocks (USC athletics), SCPolitics.com (state politics), GoColumbia (local entertainment), and Reality Check (fact-checking) extend the core news offering.

Product overview

The State is a traditional newspaper publisher operating primarily as a single unified digital platform (thestate.com) for Columbia, South Carolina, with specialized sub-brands and vertical sections. The core product is the main news website delivering local news, breaking news, crime, politics, weather, sports, entertainment, and business coverage. The portfolio includes dedicated sub-brands: GoGamecocks.com for USC athletics coverage, SCPolitics.com for state politics watchdog reporting, GoColumbia for entertainment and dining, and a Money section for personal finance content. Additional offerings include Digital Edition for subscribers, mobile apps, email newsletters (AM/PM daily digests, breaking alerts, topic-specific), interactive games and puzzles, obituaries, and classifieds. The company also produces sponsored content and deals/offers through partnerships. The product architecture is a unified platform with multiple topical sections and sub-brands rather than a modular SaaS platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The State (thestate.com) — Digital News Subscription Primary digital news platform providing local news, breaking news, sports, politics, crime, weather, entertainment, and business coverage for Columbia, SC and the broader South Carolina Midlands region. Sold as monthly ($1.99 first month then $15.99/month) or annual ($159.99/year) digital subscriptions with auto-renewal.
• Digital Edition (E-Edition)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Us WeeklyminorOthersContent syndication partnership providing entertainment news including celebrity coverage, Taylor Swift updates, reality TV content, and Us Weekly shopping newsletters to readers.
• The StreetminorOthersBusiness and finance content syndication providing stock market updates, economic news, and financial analysis to readers.
• McClatchy (Parent Company)coreOthersPart of the McClatchy Media Network. In 2020, McClatchy transitioned to private ownership when acquired by Chatham Asset Management, strengthening financial position for local news investment.
• Newspapers.comminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArchive distribution partnership enabling access to historical newspaper archives through Newspapers.com platform.
• Legacy.comminorOthersPartnership for obituary listings and placement services, directing readers to Legacy.com for obituary browsing and placement.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Patch.com: Digital-native hyperlocal news network operating in thousands of US communities including Columbia, SC. Competes for local advertising dollars and digital news audience attention, though with shallower editorial depth than a traditional daily.
• The State (Columbia) — competitor: The Daily Gamecock: University of South Carolina's independent student newspaper. While narrower in audience, it competes for the same USC Gamecocks fan engagement and Columbia-area digital news readership that GoGamecocks targets.

Direct peers

• The News & Observer (Raleigh): McClatchy-owned regional daily covering Raleigh-Durham, NC. Closely comparable in product mix, revenue model (digital subs + advertising + classifieds), and Mid-Atlantic regional newspaper positioning.
• The Sacramento Bee: McClatchy flagship daily; comparable in scale (large regional metro), digital subscription architecture, and multi-product platform including newsletters, e-edition, and mobile apps.
• The Post and Courier: Charleston, SC's daily newspaper and the most direct in-state competitor to The State. Comparable regional South Carolina footprint, subscription model, and focus on state politics and college sports.
• The Island Packet / Beaufort Gazette: McClatchy-owned South Carolina regional daily covering Hilton Head and Beaufort. Direct in-state peer sharing the McClatchy network, subscription platform, and SC-focused editorial scope.
• The Charlotte Observer: Fellow McClatchy-owned regional daily serving the Charlotte, NC metro. Operates with similar digital subscription tiers, classifieds platform, and parent-level infrastructure, making it a directly comparable sibling property.
• Greenville News: Gannett-owned regional daily covering Greenville, SC and the Upstate region. Direct in-state competitor with similar subscription model, classifieds platform, and statewide coverage scope.

Broad incumbents

• Lee Enterprises: Major regional newspaper chain (Post-Tribune, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Buffalo News) with comparable digital subscription, advertising, and content syndication model to The State across multiple regional markets.
• USA Today Network (Gannett): Nation's largest local newspaper chain operating ~200 outlets including Greenville News, Anderson Independent-Mail, and other SC papers. Indirect peer through shared Gannett digital subscription platform and ad network.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thestate
• YouTubeyoutube.com/TheStateSC
• Facebookfacebook.com/thestatenews
• Instagraminstagram.com/thestatenewspaper
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/29128

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The State Newspaper