Since adopting a 'digital-first' strategy in 2014, the MEN has experienced significant online growth, despite its average print daily circulation for the first half of 2021 falling to 22,107.

The Manchester Evening News was first published on 10 October 1868 by Mitchell Henry as part of his parliamentary election campaign, its first issue four pages long and costing a halfpenny.

[5] Upon the newspaper's launch, Henry said: "In putting ourselves into print, we have no apology to offer, but the assurance of an honest aim to serve the public interest.

"[8][nb 1] During the editorship of William Haley (who later became the Director-General of the BBC and subsequently the editor of The Times) in the 1930s, the newspaper's circulation grew to over 200,000.

In December 2009, GMG confirmed it had held "exploratory talks" about selling the Manchester Evening News,[14] following a report by The Daily Telegraph which named Trinity Mirror as a potential buyer and claimed the "disposal would amount to a fire sale" due to the current value of the business.

[16] The sale was valued at £44.8m – £7.4m in cash and the remainder from GMG extricating itself from a £37.4m decade-long contract with Trinity Mirror to print its regional titles.

[21] Despite its "evening" title, the newspaper began publication of a morning edition in November 2004, a controversial move which brought union members to the brink of strike action over new work rotas.

On 2 May 2006 the Evening News dropped the "Lite" edition in favour of a "part-free, part-paid" distribution model for the main paper.

In December 2009, the newspaper announced that as of January 2010 the paper would no longer be handed out free Monday to Wednesday in the city centre and other selected locations.

[citation needed] City Life – originally an independent political and cultural magazine for the Manchester area – was acquired by GMG in 1989.

In December 2007, City Life ceased independent publication, subsequently becoming a 20-page supplement to the Friday issue of the Manchester Evening News.