The Town Times, a weekly newspaper serving Watertown and its surrounding communities, will cease publication after next week’s edition, according to local officials and a statement posted by state Rep. Joe Polletta (R-Watertown).
Polletta announced the closure in a social-media post, calling the loss “an indication of a trend seen nationwide” as local newspapers struggle to survive.
“The Town Times has been what our small community is all about,” he wrote, noting that the paper “gave our town a pulse — showing the good work our civic organizations do, highlighting our students and athletes, and giving residents a voice through letters to the editor.”
The newspaper will publish its last issue on Oct. 30.
Polletta said the publication helped him reflect on his role as a public servant and stay connected to residents’ concerns.
The Town Times is published by Prime Publishers Inc., a family-owned company based in Southbury that has served western Connecticut communities. The Town Times was first published in 1947.
The Connecticut media landscape has been consolidating in recent years. The daily Republican‑American in Waterbury — owned by the Pape family since 1901 — was acquired on Feb. 5, 2025 by Hearst Connecticut Media Group, a subsidiary of the national media company Hearst Corp.
Under the deal, the Republican-American joins more than 30 local newspapers in Hearst’s Connecticut portfolio.
Newspapers have been suffering for years amid shrinking advertising revenue, falling circulation, competition from digital platforms and social media and the rising cost of print operations.
For Watertown residents, the loss of the Town Times is deeply felt. Polletta said that, beyond sports highlights and community organization coverage, the paper offered a forum for citizen voices — letters to the editor — and helped foster community identity.
“While I may not have agreed with every letter — especially those where I was criticized — I still took time to reflect on what I could do better,” he said.