When The Record’s first edition rolled off the press on Feb. 15, 1879, Pope Leo XIII was the Holy Father, and Bishop William McCloskey led what was then the Diocese of Louisville.
There were 38 states in the Union, and Edison’s first commercial lightbulbs became available later that year.
As the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Louisville, The Record has recorded great changes in the world over the last 147 years, and it has experienced great change itself. What started as an 11×8 inch eight-page monthly — with no headlines or photos and 2,000 subscribers — became Kentucky’s largest weekly newspaper, a broadsheet with a circulation of more than 65,000 at its highest.
The Record now produces a print edition with a circulation of about 56,000, a website with daily updates, a weekly newsletter and active social media. The print edition is mailed to every household registered in a Catholic parish in the archdiocese. Last September, The Record reduced its print frequency from 48 issues a year to 39 in order to put more resources into digital production.
Next month will bring another significant change. The Record’s print frequency will shift to 25 issues a year. The staff will produce a print edition every other week, except the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.
Shifting storytelling
“This shift doesn’t translate to less coverage of the Catholic Church in central Kentucky,” said The Record’s editor, Marnie McAllister. “This shift is crucial for effectively fulfilling its mission in today’s world — to inform, educate and inspire — wherever the people of God look for news. Our readers can expect to see and hear some of the stories we tell via video in addition to traditional prose.”
Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, publisher of The Record, said the news organ is “an essential evangelization and faith formation tool, reaching people across our 24-county archdiocese.”
“As The Record expands its digital presence, my hope is that The Record will engage more people, meet them where they are in their faith journey, and encourage the faithful to deepen their relationship with Jesus,” he said. “Telling the Catholic story is still relevant today and needed. With so much misinformation about the Catholic Church and Catholic social teaching, it is important for Catholic media to speak the truth about Catholicism, the Church, and the Good News of the Gospel.
“I appreciate that The Record approaches stories through the lens of the Catholic faith,” he noted. “The stories of faith from the people of God are inspiring and demonstrate how the Holy Spirit is moving and working through people and in our communities.”
Making an impact
Kanobia Russell-Blackmon, chief communications officer for the archdiocese, said she personally enjoys videos that explore a person’s vocation story.
“It’s one thing to read about the faith journey of a priest, religious or lay person, but to hear the person share their story in their own words makes an impact,” she said.
Recent coverage of an ordination to the priesthood provided just such an opportunity.
McAllister noted, “Our audience heard first-hand from Father Evrard Muhoza, who gave an interview on video in the weeks before his ordination.”
“He spoke about his vocation, about his love for God and the people of God,” she said. “But more than that, the video captures his gentle voice, his lilting accent and a sense of serenity that parishioners can expect to experience in his ministry.”
The Record also produced a video and a story with photos depicting the ordination itself, “giving viewers from all corners of the archdiocese an opportunity not only to read what happened, but to hear the music — which included the beautiful sounds of his native Burundi — and witness the elements of the sacrament unfold,” said McAllister.
“TV news has been bringing the sights and sounds of world events to our living rooms for decades, offering viewers a universal experience of something they may not be able to witness in person,” noted McAllister. “Technology has reached a point where The Record’s small staff and limited resources can do something similar, offering coverage of the unique news and events of the local Catholic community. And, of course, you don’t have to watch from your living room these days; you can connect anywhere you can access the internet.”
Unity and engagement
Gabrielle Krumpelman, who helps create and edit much of The Record’s digital media, said she hopes the new digital offerings serve as invitations, encouraging people to engage with the local Church.
“Seeing an ordination video one year may make it more possible for that person to know what to expect and actually attend the next year, engaging with their faith in an in-person way,” she said.
“Communications in the church are not meant to leave us isolated and informed, but informed and invited into real relationships with the Lord and each other — something to be found most tangibly when we are together in the flesh. All generations — and especially younger generations — need this. Video can help show and encourage that reality.”
Russell-Blackmon said these avenues for communication and engagement can foster hope, community and unity.
“Expanding our digital presence provides us the opportunity to reach more people in the archdiocese, to spread the message of hope, especially when the world feels chaotic,” she said. “Digital also provides the opportunity for engagement, which builds community.
“Pope Leo XIV expressed to Catholic journalists in May 2025 that communication is more than providing information; it is about creating ‘human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue and discussion.’
“Rooted in the faith, Catholic media tell stories through the lens of the Catholic faith. As Catholic communicators, we seek to build unity and encourage the faithful to grow spiritually,” Russell-Blackmon said.
Archbishop Fabre said he hopes his messages in The Record promote unity among the Catholics of central Kentucky.
“As the servant, shepherd and spiritual leader of this local Church, The Record helps me advance my ministry by ensuring my message reaches the faithful across the archdiocese,” he said. “I hope through my columns, reflections and statements, I can promote unity, enhance the understanding of the Gospel, inspire people to grow in their faith and lead people into a deeper relationship with the Lord.”
Join the digital community
When The Record began production in 1879, newsprint offered a way to reach the people of God quickly and cheaply.
“If created from scratch today, The Record would likely have begun as a digital endeavor for the same reasons,” McAllister noted. “While the digital sphere has opened up new opportunities to tell the Catholic story, traditional print media is encountering challenges — from soaring costs to logistics.”
“I’m grateful that we can continue offering the print product while using digital tools to help us reach more people with robust coverage, especially those who don’t receive the print edition but still seek the Church online,” said McAllister. “And I hope that our faithful print readers will give our digital storytelling a try, too.”
The easiest way to stay connected is through The Record’s weekly newsletter, currently sent via email to about 30,000 people.
“It’s free and easy to sign up, but you do have to take the step to sign up,” McAllister added.
Sign up at therecordnewspaper.org/e-newsletter-subscription/ or send an email to record@archlou.org for assistance.
