The Express-Times
An American newspaper that served Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and adjacent New Jersey communities.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Express-Times was a regional American newspaper headquartered in Easton, Pennsylvania, serving communities in the Lehigh Valley and nearby areas of northwestern New Jersey. It traced its origin to 1855, when it was established as The Easton Daily Express. Over more than a century and a half, the publication developed from a local Easton daily into a cross-border regional newspaper covering Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. The paper's editorial scope combined local reporting with national and international news. Its local coverage included municipal government, courts, education, crime, business, community affairs, obituaries, and regional politics, while its broader sections carried national news, world news, sports, arts, entertainment, editorials, classifieds, comics, horoscopes, and puzzles. The publication used zoned editions to address the distinct communities on both sides of the Pennsylvania–New Jersey market. It also produced recurring supplements and inserts, including entertainment, real-estate, features, and Sunday content, and published a weekly paper called The US in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The newspaper underwent several significant ownership and identity changes. Its name changed to The Easton Express in 1917 and was shortened to The Express in 1973. Thomson Newspapers acquired the publication in 1983. In 1991, it merged with Bethlehem-based The Globe-Times, creating The Express-Times and expanding the title's regional identity. MediaNews Group purchased the newspaper from Thomson in 1994, and Advance Publications acquired MediaNews Group's Pennsylvania and New Jersey newspapers, including The Express-Times, in 2000. The Express-Times was recognized for journalism in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In 2021, it received a Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting, reflecting the importance of its political journalism and regional public-affairs coverage. In 2023, it stopped carrying the Dilbert comic strip after remarks by creator Scott Adams prompted widespread newspaper cancellations of the feature. This was an editorial and content-distribution decision shared with The Morning Call, another major newspaper in the Lehigh Valley. The publication ended its print edition in February 2025. Its website was associated with LehighValleyLive.com, a regional digital news platform. Accordingly, The Express-Times is best understood as a historically significant regional newspaper brand whose print newspaper operation has ended, while related digital news activity may continue under the broader Lehigh Valley Live publishing presence.
History
The Express-Times began in 1855 as The Easton Daily Express in Easton, Pennsylvania. It became part of the long tradition of local daily newspapers serving the Lehigh Valley, a region whose communities developed around manufacturing, commerce, transportation, and later suburban growth. From its Easton base, the newspaper reported on local institutions while also carrying national and international news. In 1917, the title was renamed The Easton Express. The name was later shortened to The Express in 1973, reflecting a more concise identity while retaining its connection to Easton. The publication's corporate history changed in 1983, when Thomson Newspapers acquired it. Thomson's ownership placed the paper within a larger newspaper group during a period when regional daily publishers were consolidating operations and expanding across local markets. A major editorial and market transformation occurred in 1991, when The Express merged with The Globe-Times, a newspaper based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The combination created The Express-Times and gave the resulting publication a broader Lehigh Valley identity. The newspaper subsequently operated with zoned editions serving both Pennsylvania communities and nearby New Jersey communities. Its distribution area included Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. In 1994, MediaNews Group acquired The Express-Times from Thomson. Six years later, in 2000, Advance Publications purchased MediaNews's newspapers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including The Express-Times. Under this ownership structure, the newspaper continued its regional daily role while also participating in the transition from print-centered publishing toward digital local-news distribution. The publication maintained a broad newspaper format. Its main editorial sections covered local, national, and world news; Lehigh Valley news and obituaries; sports; and arts and entertainment. Daily editorial pages, classified advertising, comics, horoscopes, and puzzles supplemented the primary sections. Weekly inserts included an entertainment tabloid, a real-estate guide, and a Sunday features section that incorporated material from The Wall Street Journal alongside full-color comics. The company also published The US, a weekly newspaper based in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The Express-Times received recognition in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in 2021 it won a Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting. The award underscored the newspaper's continuing role in regional political journalism. In 2023, the publication removed the Dilbert comic strip after creator Scott Adams made remarks about Black people that led many newspapers to cancel the feature. The decision demonstrated the editorial and reputational considerations involved in syndicated content. The Express-Times discontinued its print edition in February 2025. The end of print marked the conclusion of a newspaper run that had lasted approximately 170 years from its 1855 founding. Its website was associated with LehighValleyLive.com, reflecting the continuing importance of digital channels in serving the region. The historical newspaper brand remains associated with local journalism in Easton, the Lehigh Valley, and adjacent New Jersey, even though its printed daily edition no longer operates.
- 2025
Print edition discontinued
[1]The Express-Times ended its print edition in February.
- 2021
Received a Toner Prize
[1]The newspaper won a Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting.
- 2000
Acquired by Advance Publications
[1]Advance Publications bought MediaNews's Pennsylvania and New Jersey newspapers, including The Express-Times.
- 1994
Acquired by MediaNews Group
[1]MediaNews Group acquired The Express-Times from Thomson.
- 1991
Merged with The Globe-Times
[1]The Express merged with Bethlehem-based The Globe-Times, forming The Express-Times.
- 1983
Acquired by Thomson Newspapers
[1]Thomson Newspapers purchased the publication.
- 1973
Shortened its name to The Express
[1]The newspaper adopted the shorter title The Express.
- 1917
Renamed The Easton Express
[1]The publication changed its name from The Easton Daily Express to The Easton Express.
- 1855
Founded as The Easton Daily Express
[1]The newspaper began publication in Easton, Pennsylvania, under the name The Easton Daily Express.
Products and positioning
A locally focused regional news publisher serving the Lehigh Valley and adjacent northwestern New Jersey communities, combining community reporting with national news, sports, entertainment, advertising, and digital publishing.
Daily regional newspaper · 1991
The Express-Times
The core publication was a daily regional newspaper covering local, national, and international news. Its local reporting focused on the Lehigh Valley and nearby New Jersey communities, with additional sections for sports, arts and entertainment, editorials, classifieds, comics, horoscopes, and puzzles. Zoned editions addressed readers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Weekly community newspaper
The US
The US was a weekly newspaper published in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, as an additional community publication associated with The Express-Times.
Digital news platform
LehighValleyLive.com
LehighValleyLive.com served as the newspaper's associated digital presence and provided an online channel for regional news coverage. The available reference material does not establish the precise corporate relationship or current operating status of every digital service.
Controversies
2023
Removal of the Dilbert comic strip
The Express-Times discontinued publication of Dilbert after creator Scott Adams made remarks about Black people during a YouTube livestream. The decision followed a broader newspaper response to the controversy and was also taken by The Morning Call.
Brand decisions
2025
Discontinued the print editionStrategyBackground
After a long history as a printed daily newspaper, the publication ended its print format in February 2025.
Action taken
The Express-Times stopped publishing a print edition.
Aftermath
The end of print concluded the newspaper's traditional physical publication, while its associated digital presence was linked to LehighValleyLive.com.
2023
Dropped the Dilbert comic stripOtherBackground
The decision followed controversial public remarks by Dilbert creator Scott Adams and similar cancellations by other newspapers.
Action taken
The Express-Times removed Dilbert from its newspaper content.
Aftermath
The newspaper joined The Morning Call and other publications in ending their use of the syndicated strip.
- The Morning Call — The Morning Call also discontinued the Dilbert comic strip.
1991
Merger with The Globe-TimesM&ABackground
The Express and Bethlehem-based The Globe-Times were combined as part of a regional newspaper consolidation.
Action taken
The merged publication adopted the name The Express-Times.
Aftermath
The new title operated as a broader Lehigh Valley newspaper with zoned coverage extending into adjacent New Jersey counties.
Sources2 sources
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