In the midst of a tidal wave of national and global news, Huntingdon Daily News remains just as radiant as before—a shining beacon of community news coverage in Central Pennsylvania. As so many of the area’s regional dailies have fallen prey to digital disruption, Huntingdon’s paper has endured—and in 2025, is thriving.
Whether borough council activities, high school sports, weather alerts, or town postings, Huntingdon Daily News delivers news of note to hometown readers. The following is a 1600-word research study that will discuss how the newspaper has been able to stay current, its biggest stories of the year, its transformation into the digital age, and why hometown journalism is crucial during the high-tech era.
The Heritage and History of the Huntingdon Daily News
More than 90 Years of Local Coverage
Since it began publishing in 1922, the Huntingdon Daily News has chronicled the ups and downs of Huntingdon County for more than 90 years. There were plant closings and floods, presidential visits and Little League titlists. The paper always had its ear to the ground of the town.
The newspaper is still published five days a week in 2025 and has gained a loyal online audience with its website, offering younger readers and older readers the best of yesterday and today.
Why Small-Town News Still Matters
The big cities might get all the coverage, but in places like Huntingdon, local news is what makes the daily difference. A zoning issue on your street or an obituary of someone close to you, these aren’t national front-page news—but to the locals, they make all the difference.
Huntingdon Daily News understands local news is not small—at least, not adjectivally small. It is local.
2025 Top Huntingdon Daily News Stories
Juniata College 150 Years Anniversary
The highlight of the year was the 150 years anniversary of Juniata College. There were eight days of festivities in the college ranging from a city parade on the street to lectures by the college’s eminent alumni and a ceremony for opening the time capsule.
It was covered exclusively by Huntingdon Daily News in photo galleries, student and professor interviews, and a special print commemorative supplement.
Porter Township Flood Recovery
Heavy February rains of 2025 unleashed dangerous February flooding along Standing Stone Creek. Hundreds of homes were threatened, and township bridges needed to be closed to be inspected for safety. All local daily news reporters were on the scene to cover the rescues, tweeting about donations, in addition to lists of families displaced who were in need of assistance.
Their initial coverage permitted relief operations to be established and raised over $150,000 in donations in collaboration with the local business community.
Historic Courthouse Renovation Approved
After heatedly contested discussion over a few months, the Huntingdon County Commissioners voted to restore the county courthouse at a cost of $9 million. The restoration will return the building to a historic look once again and add accessibility and modern security features.
The Daily News covered the story from the first town hall meeting to last approval—giving the people an open, unfiltered record of the decision-making process.
The Digital Evolution of Huntingdon Daily News
New Website for Today’s Reader
In March 2025, HuntingdonDailyNews.com launched a new site that’s faster, more mobile-friendly, and better-reading. It now features:
- e-edition access for digital subscribers
- Breaking news alerts in real time
- Online archives of articles between 2000 and the present date
- Commentary on highlighted articles
Daily or weekly top local headlines newsletters for members to subscribe to are also available.
Social Media and Community Engagement
While print remains necessary for so many, the Huntingdon Daily News has also reached more via Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram. Its “Throwback Thursday” sharing of Huntingdon’s historic photographs have resonated, with hundreds of likes and comments from residents there now and in the past.
Newsgathering reporters have also utilized social media to gather ideas for stories, break news, live-tweet football games and school board meetings.
Local Sports: Community’s Top Priority
Bearcats Pride in Overdrive
The sports desk is still one of the busiest desks at the Huntingdon Daily News. News about the Huntingdon Area High School Bearcats—football, basketball, or wrestling—is one of the best reasons the paper gets printed.
The Bearcats football team is enjoying a 2025 playoff season, and the paper’s sports reporter, Mike Sheetz, has been delivering front-page content, player profiles, and game blogs of the games.
College Sports and Youth Leagues
In addition to the high school coverage, the paper also offers space for:
- Little League baseball scores
- Juniata College sports
- Youth basketball league tournaments
- Fishing reports and hunting news
These are not games—these are civic business, and the Daily News makes sure they are covered on an equal basis with major league games.
Government, Crime, and Public Affairs Coverage
Balancing the Power through Reporting
The Huntingdon Daily News is often the sole news of town council and county commissioner meetings. Their report in 2025 brought a resignation after they discovered embezzled funds within the tax assessor’s office.
This type of hometown watchdog reporting no longer occurs—but Huntingdon’s paper still does.
Timely Police Reports and Public Safety Announcements
Daily blotter listings, arrest warnings, and emergency service notices are all the standard fare with every edition. During June, when there was a burglary spree sweeping the Smithfield Township area, the Daily News teamed up with police to run safety alerts, suspect descriptions, and arrest notices.
Obituaries, Birth Announcements, and Community Life
Life Events Still Have an Influence Here
The obituary page remains one of the most widely read in the paper. It is not a list of names—it is a tribute to community lives and achievements. Huntingdon Daily News publishes each week:
- Birth announcements
- Wedding and anniversary photos
- Retirement anniversaries
- Church and civic association calendars
These pages are the heart of the sense of local continuity and belonging.
The Voices of Huntingdon: Opinions and Letters
Letters Cause Local Stir
The Daily News publishes a series of readers’ letters each week, on school board policy, national issues of local interest, and other subjects. Some of the most contentious issues of 2025 have been:
- Development of solar panel farms
- Subsidy of volunteer fire companies
- Prayer in the public schools
The essay has been praised for introducing opposing perspectives without incivility.
Guest Columns by Local Experts
Juniata College professors, farmers, and even high school students, the editorial pages have real voices from across the community. Another way in which the newspaper keeps its content rooted in the life of its readers.
Special Sections and Community Features
“Faces of Huntingdon” Photo Series
Another of the paper’s strengths is “Faces of Huntingdon,” a recurring photo and interview section in which readers meet ordinary individuals—shopkeepers, nurses, teachers, veterans, etc. They are reminded that there are unique individuals like them living unique lives.
Business Spotlight: Supporting the Local Economy
The monthly “Business Spotlight” feature highlights locally owned businesses, eateries, and services. With each story, the Huntingdon Daily News promotes economic development and hometown pride.
The People in the News
Committed Reporters and Editors
From Editor-in-Chief Laura Shoemaker to crime reporter Ben Hostetler, newsroom employees are working around the clock to inform the community. They reside in the community, have their children attend the same local schools, and shop at the same local malls—these are the same individuals they report on.
Journalism Education and Internships
The newspaper also offers a summer internship program for the students of the locally enrolled high school and college who are interested in pursuing a career in journalism. They are now enjoying their livelihood as local dailies or television news networks from some of the former interns.
Why Huntingdon Daily News Still Thrives
A Reader-First Approach
Above clicks or sensationalism, the paper is truth, simplicity, and relevance. Editors work hard to ensure that every story, whether small or large, has the local reader’s interest at heart.
Subscriber Support Makes It Possible
The newspaper is not responsible for corporate ad revenue or national party affiliation. It is funded by subscribers and local businesses first—demonstrating that community-supported journalism can still be lucrative when it’s speaking truth to the people.
Most Frequent Questions About Huntingdon Daily News
Can I subscribe to the Huntingdon Daily News online?
Yes, print and internet subscriptions are available through HuntingdonDailyNews.com.
How often is the paper printed?
Monday through Friday, with holiday or special event papers as necessary.
Can I place an ad for a wedding or birth in the paper?
Yes. Applications are available on the site or come in the office and pick one up to take with you.
Does the paper serve surrounding towns?
Yes. It serves Mount Union, Mill Creek, Alexandria, and the rest of Huntingdon County.
Is there a student discount for subscriptions?
Yes. Students who show an ID can have a 30% discount on digital subscriptions.
Final Thoughts: A Hometown Newspaper That Still Believes in Community
It’s 2025, and nine out of ten newspapers are a relic of the past—or nothing. But Huntingdon Daily News persists. Weather parades, scandal, and days of bad news, and there it is—covering, connecting, and reminding citizens what’s uniquely their town.
It’s not pixels on a screen or ink on paper—it’s the heartbeat of a community’s history.
