 | |
 The Austin Chronicle (July 14, 2017) | |
| Type | Alternative weekly |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| Owner | Austin Chronicle Corp. |
| Editor | Kimberley Jones |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | 4000 N I H 35 Austin, Texas 78751 US |
| Circulation | 65,000 |
| ISSN | 1074-0740 |
| OCLC number | 8620367 |
| Website | austinchronicle |
The Austin Chronicle is analternative weeklynewspaper published every Thursday inAustin, Texas, United States. The paper is distributed through free news-stands, often at local eateries or coffee houses frequented by its targeted demographic. In 2001, the newspaper reported a weekly readership of 545,500.[1] It is part of theAssociation of Alternative Newsmedia and it emulates the typical publications of the 1960scounterculture movement.[2]
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TheChronicle was co-founded in 1981 byNick Barbaro andLouis Black, with assistance from others who largely met through the graduate film studies program at theUniversity of Texas at Austin. Barbaro and Black are also co-founders of theSouth by Southwest Festival, although the festival operates as a separate company.[3] The paper initially was published bi-weekly, and later weekly.
Its precursor in style and format was theAustin Sun, a bi-weekly that had ceased operations in 1978, after four years of publication.[4] The first issue of theChronicle was distributed on September 4, 1981.
With a progressive point of view and irreverent voice, theChronicle covers local and state news as well as the Austin food, film, theater, art and music communities. The paper also has a number of annual features, including the"Best of Austin" Awards and "Best of Austin: Restaurants" Awards, cut-out masks forHalloween, and theApril Fools' edition. TheChronicle produces the annualAustin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival, normally held in early September.
In March 2025, Nick Barbaro, who was publisher for the past 43 years, retired. Cassidy Frazier has been named as the new publisher. Barbaro will remain as president of the Austin Chronicle Corporation.[5]
It is a profit-oriented business that receives income from advertisements.[2] The newspaper endorses electoral candidates and its reporters check official sources.[2]
