The Cortland Standard is the only daily newspaper published in Cortland County. Although the Cortland Standard is one of the community’s oldest institutions, the newspaper, in a sense, remains as new as today’s edition. Known as the “Cortland County Standard,” the newspaper was established in June of 1867 as a weekly by Francis G. The original publisher of the newspaper apparently encountered various difficulties in getting the paper started. In the first issue, he pointed out that the press had not arrived in time for the printing of the first edition. The first issue of the paper, therefore, was printed in the offices of the Homer Republican. At the same time, he also purchased the Cortland Journal and combined the two papers under the name, “The Standard and Journal.” The name was changed to the Cortland Standard in 1879. On April 1, 1876, William H. Clark purchased the paper and served as its editor and publisher for nearly 52 years. Clark, became president and editor of the newspaper in 1928 and continued to serve in that capacity until his death on August 28, 1973. The Cortland Standard was relocated to the corner of Main and Tompkins streets on March 1, 1883. The building was at first shared with the Post Office, and the YMCA occupied space for a time on the upper floors of the Standard building. In March 2025, the Cortland Standard abruptly ceased publication. The Cortland Standard's marketing & advertising manager, Mindy Lawrence, was hired by Sample News Group immediately following the closure and was appointed as Publisher of the Oswego County News Group. On May 7, 2025, Sample News Group purchased the Cortland Standard and appointed Lawrence as group publisher of both the Oswego County News Group and the Cortland Standard. The Cortland Standard resumed publication on May 17, 2025.
