By Clark Judge
(April 10, 2026) — Three years after the Krier went out of business, Killingworth readers are faced with the possible loss of another publication. This time it’s the Haddam Killingworth News, a weekly tabloid that’s been delivered free to residents of Killingworth since 2019. But that may change soon, with the paper’s Board of Managers considering shutting down Killingworth altogether — both in delivery and coverage — within the next month.
The reason: What else? Financial support.
It’s not that there’s not enough of it from Killingworth; it’s that there’s almost none. According to documents provided by HK News, the paper accumulated $23,055 in advertising revenue the first three months of this year. However, only $993 of that sum was drawn from Killingworth, with $653 — or two-thirds of that total — from legal notices.
That’s a problem.
But here’s a bigger one: While the HK News accumulated $23,055 in advertising revenue, it also accumulated $28,965 in costs — a three-month loss of $5,910 and a projected deficit of $23,608 for the year. With bank reserves suddenly depleted to under $7,000, the paper cannot sustain weekly losses of $454 much longer. In fact, insiders contend, it can’t sustain them beyond another month.
“Bottom line,” said Ed Munster, the paper’s ad manager, “we’re facing a crisis.”
Which is where Killingworth comes in.
Unless the town can generate more revenue through advertisers, pledges or local donors, HK News will be tempted — no, almost compelled — to cease delivery and coverage because it literally can’t afford to continue. The direct cost of mailing the paper to 2,700 Killingworth addresses, for instance, is $564.46.a week. But that includes only printing and postage, and postage accelerated to more than $100 a week this past year. Consequently, when all costs are considered, Killingworth commands a proportional share of $822.62 per week.
Do the math: If you eliminate Killingworth, the paper eliminates its weekly losses.
“If we were to stop including Killingworth, we could sustain ourselves on the existing advertising from Haddam,” said Munster. “But that’s not what we want to do. On the other hand, we don’t want to go completely bankrupt, either, and not publish. However, we have to face reality and how to deal with it.”
The reality is that HK News is a valuable asset to Killingworth, offering readers — particularly seniors — an opportunity to find local news or postings outside social media … and, yes, that comes from personal experience. Where once I wondered why I’d hear from readers on a story of mine that appeared a week or two after it was posted on social media, now I know. They didn’t see it until the paper arrived in the mail.
“The first thing I do when I go to the mailbox on Thursday is look for that paper,” said Glenn Johnson, a Killingworth resident of 53 years. “A lot of times I’ll bring it in, and my daughter will grab it. It’s great information, and I love it.”
And if it disappeared?
“I’d absolutely miss it,” he said.
Like others interviewed for this story, Johnson does not gain his information from social media or the internet. He acquires it through the two publications that serve his town — The Source and HK News. However, like others, he believes The Source leans heavily toward Madison whereas HK News is less impartial.
“It’s something that every Thursday I look forward to receiving in the mail,” said Jim Childs, who’s lived in Killingworth for 24 years. “It’s my way of knowing what’s going on in Haddam and Killingworth. I think of it as a newsworthy, small newspaper, and, yes, I’d definitely miss it.”
Johnson and Childs are both seniors, and that’s an important element to this story. According to the 2021 Town Profile, 46 percent of Killingworth’s citizens were 50 or older, including 28 percent who were at least 60. To reach that demographic, businesses often must resort to advertising outside of social media.
As the numbers demonstrate, that hasn’t happened in Killingworth. But an informal poll of local businesses revealed why: While all but one expressed interest in contributing to HK News or opening an ad account with the paper, almost all said they hadn’t been contacted about possible interest.
One explanation might have to do with the HK News advertising department. One individual is in charge of sales, and he is a volunteer. Moreover, much of the news staff, including the editors and all correspondents, are volunteers. But let’s be honest: When you’re on a shoestring budget, that’s going to happen. You work with the available people and cut where you must.
Which is why the paper is dialing 911.
“I’m willing to do all that I can to make this happen,” said Munster, “but we’re going to need help from Killingworth businesses and donors. HK News will have a short life if we don’t do something quickly. The facts are that for the past year it has cost more each year to produce and mail the paper than we are getting in revenue. And that’s not sustainable.”
If you would like to help by selling ads, by reporting on the activities of the Town’s Boards and Commissions, or by writing articles that would be of general interest to HK News readers, please contact HK-NowEditors@outlook.com.
