Wisconsin State Journal

Overview

Wisconsin State Journal is a daily newspaper published in Madison, Wisconsin, and the state's official newspaper of record. It is the second-largest newspaper in Wisconsin, distributed across a 19-county region in south-central Wisconsin.

History

The paper was first published December 2, 1839, as The Madison Express, renamed the Wisconsin Daily Journal in 1852 and given its current name in 1860. Lee Enterprises (then Lee Newspaper Syndicate) purchased the paper in 1919. In 1948, the State Journal and its rival, The Capital Times, formed a joint operating partnership, Madison Newspapers, Inc., now known as Capital Newspapers, in which Lee Enterprises holds a 50 percent interest alongside The Capital Times Company. The State Journal's editorial board was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2008 for editorial writing and the newsroom was a finalist in 2012 for Breaking News Reporting. In November 2025, the paper moved to a six-day printing schedule, eliminating its printed Monday edition. On December 30, 2025, Florida-based businessman David Hoffmann completed a $50 million deal to acquire a controlling stake in Lee Enterprises, becoming chairman of the company's board.

Location and contact info

Address
1901 Fish Hatchery Rd
Madison, WI 53713
Phone
(608) 252-6200
Website
https://madison.com