‘The Paper’: A New Mockumentary Sitcom Exploring the Challenges of Print Journalism

‘The Paper,’ a new spinoff from the NBC sitcom ‘The Office,’ premiered on Peacock on September 4, 2025. Set at a struggling local newspaper in Ohio called The Toledo Truth Teller, the show stars Domhnall Gleeson as Ned Sampson, the editor-in-chief who faces the realities of declining print media including budget cuts, decreasing subscribers, and corporate interference. The series mirrors contemporary anxieties about the future of journalism, especially print journalism, highlighted by real-world cases like The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ceasing its print edition. The show uses the mockumentary style of ‘The Office,’ complete with shaky camera work and confessionals, linking the world of the new paper to the beloved original show through subtle nods and shared characters. Produced by Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, the series draws on both humor and social commentary, portraying the struggle to keep public information alive amidst industry-wide transformation.