The Herald-Sun and its predecessor papers have been serving Durham city and county and the surrounding area more than 125 years, with the first issue of The Durham Sun appearing in February 1889. Published as The Herald-Sun since 1991, the paper offers national and international news and features, but focuses primarily on local news, sports, business, arts and culture – embodied in its “We Are Durham” brand.

In 2020, McClatchy transitioned to private ownership when it was acquired by Chatham Asset Management. The Chatham acquisition marked the beginning of a new era of opportunity for McClatchy, strengthening the Company's financial position and enabling it to build on its 150-plus year history of independent, community-focused journalism by investing in local newsrooms.