Since 1870...
The newspapers of the City of Berlin have a long and varied history. The first newspaper made available to the area's readers was the Marquette County Mercury, established in 1850. Several other publications came and went until the subject of this article was founded in 1870 by the partnership of Hoyt, Everdale and Williams. The paper had a variety of names as well, such as the Berlin Evening Journal (then a daily) and the Berlin Weekly Journal, until evolving into simply the Berlin Journal. The offices and
printing facility were located in several downtown buildings over the years until they found their current home at 301 June Street, Berlin.
​
Ownership of the papers has changed several times. William Patey oversaw one of the longest single ownerships, maintaining the business from 1939 until the 1960s, when Orval Bicking purchased the company. The Berlin Journal Newspapers has been a family-operated business since Bob and Pat Gonyo assumed ownership in 1978; Ty and Barb Gonyo purchased the company in 2005. Ty Gonyo, president and publisher of the Berlin Journal Newspapers, has been with the organization since 1990.
​
During the Bicking ownership, the business increased readership by purchasing the Fox Lake Representative, Green Lake Reporter, Omro Herald and Princeton Times-Republic. The Feature Section, a second section included in five of the six newspapers currently published in Berlin, carries news and articles pertaining to communities throughout the area. Other subsequent additions to the company's growing list of publications include a weekly shopper called The Billboard, now in its thirty-eighth year of publication, and the newest publication, the Markesan Regional Reporter.
​
The Berlin Journal Newspapers offers much more than weekly newspapers and the free mailed shopper; it publishes visitors guides for several area communities, as well as discoverUs. These publications have been an important tool in helping to attract tourists to the area, and can be found at many regional newsstands. Other special sections printed throughout the year include a bridal guide, two annual dining guides, a hunting section, two home improvement guides and more.
The commercial printing department produces newspapers, periodicals, business cards, envelopes, letterheads and raffle tickets, to name just a few products. The company fulfills its customers' individual project needs with an in-house graphic design department as well as a professional customer service department.
​
To house all these projects and operations, the company recently built an addition that doubled its square footage, and includes two loading docks along with areas for paper storage.
​
The Berlin Journal Newspapers has a staff of about thirty-five experienced and talented people. With a very successful program to "go green," the company also prides itself on its extensive recycling program, with all surplus newsprint, cardboard, cores, aluminum and other materials being recycled.
​
Though much has changed in the history of the Berlin Journal Newspapers, one constant over the past 140 years has been commitment to bringing the best local news coverage to the community.
