| The Journal | |
| Type: | Daily newspaper |
| Format: | Broadsheet |
| Foundation: | 1903 |
| Owners: | The Edwards Group |
| Editor: | Jerry Edwards |
| Headquarters: | 210 W. North 1st St Seneca, South Carolina 29678 |
The Journal is a newspaper published in Seneca, South Carolina, five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday, the paper delivered Saturday being labeled as a weekend edition. It serves the western portion of upstate South Carolina, primarily Oconee County and western Pickens County, including Clemson University and the city of Clemson. Its Facebook page lists its founding date as 1903.
In June 2020, The Journal faced significant backlash after publishing an editorial cartoon perceived as racially insensitive. The Oconee County Council subsequently voted to sever all advertising ties with the newspaper, citing concerns over bias and racism.[1] The Journal issued a public apology, acknowledging their failure to accurately reflect the community.[2]
Ethical Failures
In September 2024, the editor of The Journal faced accusations of meddling in local politics, and violations of journalistic integrity, engaging in misleading journalism to influence the City of Clemson’s mayoral and city council elections. The editor was also reported to actively threaten citizens and elected officials in the Clemson community to “fall in line” with his side of an election or else. As a result, the Journal experienced a drop in subscriptions and diminished trust in its credibility.4