The Southern Illinoisan traces its roots back to 1848 with the establishment of The Weekly Bulletin by William Bode. Over the years, The Weekly Bulletin, The Daily Free Press, and The Evening News combined to form The Southern Illinoisan in 1947. It is currently owned by Lee Enterprises, a major provider of local news, information, and advertising in primarily midsize markets in the United States. Based in Carbondale, Illinois, The Southern Illinoisan provides comprehensive coverage of local news, Sports, Business, and Politics. It also features sections on Opinions, Obituaries, Jobs, Cars, Homes, Classifieds, and Lifestyle, targeting a wide-ranging audience across Southern Illinois. **One interesting fact**: A distinguishing feature about The Southern Illinoisan is its focus on community involvement. It hosts an annual Reader's Choice competition where readers can vote for their favorite local businesses in multiple categories, actively fostering a relationship of engagement and support within its local community.