Today marks another milestone in the history of Teesside’s biggest and most influential media outlet as the Evening Gazette is renamed as The Gazette.
The change to the title is a reflection of the changing way we bring you the very best coverage of news and sport in our region.
Our website provides up-to-the-minute information across the day, with The Gazette’s talented journalists bringing all that has happened into an entertaining format for you to enjoy over a cuppa.
The new title won’t be a massive change for our readers – the paper has colloquially been known as the Gazette for years.
Your favourite paper has been part of Teesside life – under one title or another – for nearly 145 years.
During that time, it has recorded triumph, disaster, victory, defeat, the amazing and everyday life.
Above all, it is a publication which has had Teesside and its people at heart – and this will continue long into the future.
The Gazette brand first appeared on the afternoon of Monday, November 8, 1869, as The Daily Gazette, for “Middlesbrough, Stockton and District”.
It is documented that in those days before telephones, racing pigeons were used to break news and racing results.
In 1871, the paper moved to Zetland Road to use the nearby North Eastern Railway station.
And 10 years on the paper had expanded beyond its Teesside roots and became the North-Eastern Daily Gazette - describing its content as being “without peer between Manchester and Glasgow”.
The first ever football edition appeared in the 1890s and reported on the Boro going down to a 5-1 defeat by Mossend Swifts.
The country went to fight the Great War 20 years later and as well as recording the events unfolding overseas, the Gazette recorded the sombre news of those who lost their lives, were wounded or were missing in action.
The Gazette has changed its name
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It managed to continue production through widespread rioting during the General Strike of 1926 and we organised relief for the poor.
This was also the year the paper was taken over by Allied Newspapers.
The paper continued to grow and moved into premises at the junction of Borough Road and Woodlands Road, GMC’s current base.
By that time its name had been changed and the North-Eastern Daily Gazette had become the Evening Gazette.
The momentous events of the Second World War, including Middlesbrough being targeted by enemy bombs, came and went, and the Gazette flourished as prosperity after the conflict.
In 1959 – 90 years after its inception and after publishing through two world wars – the Gazette missed an edition for the first time due to a national newspaper strike.
Soon after, its owner was taken over by Canadian Roy Thomson, later to become Lord Thomson of Fleet.
In the 1960s, the Borough Road offices were expanded and the paper reached the peak of its circulation.
The computer generation brought an end to the traditional method of producing papers with “hot metal” and, in 1988, work began on a new press hall which would house full colour printing facilities.
In 1995, Trinity International Holdings bought the Gazette from Thomson Regional Newspapers and four years later it acquired the Mirror Group to become Trinity Mirror, the present owner of The Gazette.
Today, The Gazette moves on to another stage of its rich history.
Editor Chris Styles said: “Over the years, The Gazette has become an integral part of Teesside life and one of the most recognisable brands in the region.
“I feel incredibly honoured to be the current custodian of that brand and everything it stands for.
"Every day, we strive to give our readers the content they want, when they want it and in their preferred format.
"The way we consume news and sport has been changed by the digital era but, whatever the format, Teessiders want to know what is going on in their region.
“I’m proud to say our audience is growing and when the big stories break, it is The Gazette that people turn to.
GMC General Manager Brian Green added: “We strive every day to be at the heart of our communities and our relationship with our readers, advertisers and stakeholders is key to this.
"The Gazette has been part of Teesside life for almost 145 years and will remain so for many years to come.”
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