If you grew up in Gloucester, Salem, or Cumberland counties, you probably remember a different world of ink on your fingertips. It was a world of specific identities. You had the Gloucester County Times, The News of Cumberland County, and Today’s Sunbeam. They were the bibles of the breakfast table. Then, back in 2012, everything changed. Advance Publications decided to mash them all together into one regional powerhouse.
That’s how we got the NJ South Jersey Times.
Honestly, people were skeptical at first. You've probably heard the complaints: "It's too broad," or "They don't cover my small town like they used to." But looking at the landscape today, in early 2026, the reality is a lot more nuanced. While the physical paper has slimmer margins and the Saturday print edition is a thing of the past, the heartbeat of South Jersey reporting has largely migrated to the digital space on NJ.com.
The Evolution of the NJ South Jersey Times
The merger wasn't just a corporate whim; it was a survival tactic. By 2012, the newspaper industry was already bleeding. Today’s Sunbeam had been around since 1819—think about that for a second. It survived the Civil War and two World Wars only to face the existential threat of the internet.
When the NJ South Jersey Times launched on November 4, 2012, it brought together a combined legacy of over three centuries. It consolidated operations, eventually moving into a hub in Mullica Hill. It wasn't just a name change. It was a shift from hyper-local silos to a regional lens that aimed to give the "lower" part of the state a louder voice in Trenton.
Fast forward to February 2025. A massive shift occurred. Advance Publications—the parent company—ceased daily print operations for its major Jersey papers, including the Star-Ledger and the South Jersey Times.
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It felt like the end of an era. Because it was.
But here is the thing: the newsroom didn't die. The reporters are still there. They’re just filing stories to NJ.com instead of worrying about a printing press in the middle of the night.
What’s Actually Happening in South Jersey Right Now?
If you scroll through the NJ South Jersey Times section on NJ.com today, you’re seeing a state in transition. We just saw Mikie Sherrill win the governorship, and the local impact is already being felt from Camden to Bridgeton.
One of the biggest stories hitting the region right now is the utility rate freeze. Sherrill promised it on the campaign trail, and as of January 2026, she’s moving to declare a state of emergency to stop electric bills from skyrocketing further. For residents in Salem and Gloucester counties, where the cost of living has been a thorn in everyone's side, this is front-page news—even if that "page" is now a smartphone screen.
Then there’s the environmental stuff.
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New Jersey is sinking. Well, the sea levels are rising at twice the global average, according to the latest DEP reports. The NJ South Jersey Times has been critical in highlighting how this affects the Delaware Bayshore. We aren't just talking about a few puddles in Cape May; we're talking about salt marsh restoration and the "NJ Wildfire SMART" initiative.
South Jersey is a powder keg for wildfires, especially in the Pine Barrens. The paper has been tracking the state's goal to treat 25,000 acres of forest annually with prescribed burns. It’s the kind of gritty, local reporting that national outlets like the New York Times would never touch.
Why You Can't Just Ignore the Digital Shift
It’s easy to get nostalgic for the morning paper, but the digital-first model of the NJ South Jersey Times has some actual perks:
- Real-time updates on the MVC: We all know the nightmare of getting a Real ID appointment. The newsroom has been relentless in tracking the agency's failures and the new "accountability dashboards" being pushed by the state.
- The "Warehouse-ification" of Jersey: Have you noticed the malls disappearing? They’re being replaced by massive distribution centers. The South Jersey Times covers the zoning boards and the traffic impact studies that explain why there are suddenly 500 more semi-trucks on your commute.
- High School Sports: This is the soul of the paper. Whether it’s West Deptford football or Millville track, the coverage remains deep.
Addressing the "Ghost Paper" Rumors
There’s a lot of talk about "news deserts"—places where no one is watching the school board or the mayor's office. Is the NJ South Jersey Times a victim of this?
Sorta.
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The staff is definitely smaller than it was in 1990. That’s just a fact. When you lose a dedicated town reporter who has sat in the same front-row seat at council meetings for thirty years, you lose institutional memory.
However, the regional approach allows them to connect the dots. When a developer tries a shady move in Woodbury, the reporters can see if that same developer did the same thing in Vineland. It's a different kind of watchdogging.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed
If you want to actually know what’s going on in your backyard without getting lost in the Facebook rumor mill, here is how you use the modern NJ South Jersey Times:
- Skip the Homepage: Don't just go to NJ.com. Bookmark the specific "South Jersey" or "Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland" sections. It filters out the North Jersey noise.
- Follow the Bylines: Reporters like Bill Duhart or Kevin Shea (and others in the NJ Advance Media stable) have been on these beats for a long time. Follow them on social media for the stories that don't always make the "Top News" carousel.
- Use the E-Newspaper: If you miss the layout of a physical paper, the digital subscriber "e-edition" replicates the flip-page experience. It’s the best of both worlds.
- Attend Local Meetings: The paper can’t be everywhere. If you see something weird happening at a local park or a zoning board, tip them off. Local news thrives on reader leads.
The NJ South Jersey Times has survived a century of change by evolving. It’s no longer just a bundle of paper on your lawn; it’s a digital record of a region that often feels forgotten by the rest of the state.
To stay ahead of local property tax changes and upcoming community events, set up custom alerts for your specific township on the NJ.com app to ensure you never miss a localized update.