It is owned by National World and published by Lancashire Publications, which has its offices in the town.

The main area for the paper's distribution is around the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.

The Wigan Observer is a weekly paid-for paper sold in the borough and is published each Tuesday.

It was formed in 1853 as The Wigan Observer and District Advertiser and was family-run until 1966.

It ceased publication in February 2017 with many of its supplements being incorporated into the Post instead.