Boston Globe Media's 130-Year Marathon: A Race in News Coverage

BOSTON, MA – April 17, 2026 – As Boston prepares for the historic 130th running of its iconic marathon, New England’s largest news organization is embarking on a marathon of its own. Boston Globe Media (BGM) has announced its most comprehensive coverage plan to date, a multi-platform effort that commemorates a dual anniversary: 130 years of the world-renowned race and 130 years of the media company chronicling its every step. Mobilizing a dedicated team of more than thirty journalists, BGM is deploying its full portfolio—from its flagship newspaper to niche digital brands—to capture the athletic triumphs, personal stories, and community spirit that define Marathon Monday.

A Shared History Forged Over a Century

For as long as runners have traced the 26.2-mile path from Hopkinton to Boylston Street, The Boston Globe has been there to document their journey. The relationship between the two Boston institutions is as old as the race itself, which began in 1897. The paper's coverage has not only reported on the Marathon but has also become part of its lore. It was a Globe reporter, Jerry Nason, who in 1936 famously christened the challenging series of inclines in Newton as “Heartbreak Hill,” a name now etched into the global lexicon of endurance sports.

Over the decades, the coverage has evolved dramatically from its print-only origins. The launch of Boston.com in 1995 ushered in an era of digital reporting, bringing race results and stories to a global audience online. This evolution reached a critical and somber peak in 2013, when the Marathon bombing tested the city and its leading news source. The Boston Globe's real-time, empathetic, and thorough reporting during the crisis earned it a Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News, cementing its role as an essential community voice. In the years following, the organization continued to innovate, using interactive timelines and podcasts to cover the subsequent trial, demonstrating an early adoption of complex digital storytelling techniques.

A Multi-Platform Playbook for the Modern Era

This year’s coverage strategy is a culmination of that long history, representing a sophisticated deployment of media assets designed for a fragmented audience. The plan is a multi-layered approach, with each BGM brand playing a distinct role.

The Boston Globe and its premium subscription site, Globe.com, will serve as the hub for in-depth journalism, featuring live news, detailed runner profiles, and rich narrative video from a team of veteran journalists. Meanwhile, the free-to-access Boston.com is positioned to capture the broader marathon experience, providing real-time race results, logistical guides for spectators, and snapshots of the fan-fueled atmosphere that makes the event uniquely Boston.

Showcasing a commitment to human-interest storytelling, the popular “Why I’m running” series has been expanded from a digital feature into a special collectible print publication. This move brings inspiring firsthand accounts from athletes to a tangible format, creating a keepsake for the community. For younger audiences, The B-Side newsletter, launched in 2021, offers a more curated and socially-driven experience. With a subscriber base of over 45,000 and a high engagement rate, The B-Side will deliver special marathon previews, a weekend primer, and social videos exploring the history of the course and the sights and sounds of race day.

In a novel move to engage a different segment of its audience, Boston Globe Puzzles and Games has also released its first-ever Puzzle Marathon edition. The collectible print item features 26 marathon-themed puzzles created by local authors, transforming race-day enthusiasm into an interactive challenge.

More Than a Race: A Business and Engagement Strategy

Behind this extensive journalistic effort lies a calculated business strategy aimed at strengthening Boston Globe Media's position in a competitive media landscape. The comprehensive Marathon coverage serves as a prime example of a “tentpole event” strategy, a model for which the company has received industry recognition. By creating a rich ecosystem of content around a major cultural moment, BGM aims to drive reader revenue, attract advertisers, and diversify its income streams.

The high-quality, exclusive content on Globe.com is designed to attract new subscribers and reinforce value for existing ones, a core pillar of the company’s growth since it established a paywall. At the same time, the high-traffic, free content on Boston.com provides a wide funnel for audience engagement and creates significant advertising inventory. This dual-site strategy allows BGM to serve both a loyal, paying readership and a broader, more casual audience.

Newer initiatives directly contribute to revenue diversification. The B-Side newsletter has introduced a paid membership tier, and special products like the puzzle book and the “Why I’m Running” print edition represent direct-to-consumer sales opportunities. Furthermore, partnerships, such as a previously produced magazine with Bank of America, demonstrate a capacity for high-value sponsored content. This multi-pronged financial approach is critical for the sustainability of a legacy news organization in the 21st century.

Capturing the Heart of the Community

While local and national competitors like WCVB and ESPN will provide extensive live television coverage of the elite race, BGM’s strategy is designed to differentiate itself by capturing the full tapestry of the event. The focus extends far beyond the professional runners to the thousands of charity runners, first-timers, and seasoned amateurs who form the heart of the Marathon.

Initiatives like the “Why I’m Running” series are central to this mission, elevating personal journeys of resilience, remembrance, and triumph. By providing a platform for these stories, BGM reinforces its deep connection to the region and its people. As CEO Linda Henry stated in the announcement, the goal is to honor a day that “powerfully reflects Boston’s excellence, resilience, and sense of community.”

This human-centric approach is woven through all platforms, from The B-Side’s social videos capturing fan signs to Boston.com’s focus on the overall fan experience. By mobilizing its entire portfolio, Boston Globe Media is not merely reporting on the 130th Boston Marathon; it is actively embedding itself within the community narrative, reaffirming its indispensable role as the city’s chronicler and storyteller.