W. H. Duke DeCoursey founded the Thompson Citizen in 1960.  The Nickel Belt News, published by Grant and Joan Wright, followed in 1961.  The two papers merged ownership in 1967 but maintained separate publications.  Glacier Media Inc. has owned the papers since 2007.

Both papers are free with the Thompson Citizen printing 4,500 copies every Wednesday and available throughout the City of Thompson, while the Nickel Belt News circulates 7,000 copies on Fridays to both Thompson and regionally throughout Northern Manitoba.