The launch of Phoenix Newspaper’s initial efforts in publishing online was covered in The Arizona Republic’s front page on Sunday, June 18, 1995.  The story was written by David Hoye, a staff writer on The Republic. Here’s his lede:

Arizona is getting wired.

By late this year, the best the Grand Canyon State has to offer will be available online, thanks to an agreement between America Online and Phoenix Newspapers Inc., publishers of The Arizona Republic, The Phoenix Gazette and the Arizona Business Gazette.

For the first time, anyone with a computer and an account with America Online will have immediate, 24-hour access to news and information from around Arizona.

You’ll note that the paper’s initial online efforts were on America Online.  It would take a few more months before AzCentral launched on the World Wide Web.

All of David’s stories about the launch in a PDF.

More information about the launch of AzCentral can be found elsewhere on this site.