The Newcastle Herald is the Hunter's largest local media organisation, and enjoys a long affinity and reader involvement with the region's residents.

Established in 1858, the Chronicle began as a weekly journal carrying mining, shipping, court and some small items of local news.

Under the guidance of founder John Miller Sweet, the paper flourished and by 1876 it was a tri-weekly selling for three pence and with a circulation of 4,000 copies a week.

John Sweet's father-in-law, James Fletcher, believed the region was ready for a bigger newspaper published daily and persuaded his son-in-law to expand.

The first Herald and Advocate masthead was ornate and carried a sketch of a colliery pit-top, including poppet head and chimney.

In mid-2008, the paper was forced to sell its free weekly Post publication to Newcastle Jets FC owner Con Constantine following the merger between Fairfax Media and Rural Press.