The group formed in the fall of 1996 when members Jason Noble and Jeff Mueller, who were both in Rodan, collaborated to create music for the Chicago-based syndicated National Public Radio program This American Life.
In 2004, Todd Cook, former member of Parlour, The For Carnation, and the reunited Slint, was recruited as bass player.
Shipping News appeared on the Louisville installment of Burn to Shine, a DVD series produced by Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty and filmmaker Christoph Green.
It was filmed in November 2005 and was premiered in May 2010 and was due to be released on DVD and download before Christmas 2010.
Shipping News bass player Todd Cook also appeared with his other band, Dead Child.