Bowie Blade-News Ceases Publication After 41 Years

BOWIE, MD — The Bowie Blade-News’ publication has come to an end after 41 years of business.

The call to cut the newspaper was made just two months after Tribune Publishing, the parent company of The Baltimore Sun Media Group, was purchased by Alden Global Capital for $633 million.

The New York City-based hedge fund was granted majority ownership for all Tribune newspapers, including The Baltimore Sun, Bowie Blade-News, Capital Gazette, Carroll County Times and The Aegis.

Alden Global Capital owns nearly 200 newspapers across the country, and is known for cutting newspaper budgets and laying off journalists.

According to a Facebook post from Bowie Living, Bowie Blade-News will mail its final edition to local residents on July 29, according to Al Lott, Bowie city manager.

In a report given to the city council, Lott said he was notified of the news on Monday by Timothy Thomas, senior vice president of business development at Baltimore Sun Media Group. According to Lott, Thomas claimed a lack of local advertisers was the reason the newspaper is ceasing publication.

The Bowie Blade-News started its publication in February 1980 once The Bowie Blade and The Bowie New newspapers joined forces.

For over 40 years, the paper covered local stories, city government, education, crime and more for the city of Bowie.

Although the paper is closing, The Capital-Gazette will continue to keep a Bowie news section on its website.