NewspapersThey ain’t dead yet.

• Newspaper Industry– About 1,400 daily newspapers

in U.S.

– Produce 47 million copies a day

– Reach about 100 million people a day

– In 2013, daily newspapers made $20.7 billion in advertising. More than 15 percent came from online ads.

Top 10 Largest U.S. Daily Newspapers

1. Wall Street Journal 2,378,827

2. The New York Times 1,865,318

3. USA Today 1,674,306

4. Los Angeles Times 653,868

5. San Jose Mercury News 583,998

6. New York Daily News 516,165

7. New York Post 500,521

8. The Washington Post 474,767

9. Chicago Sun-Times 470,548

10. The Denver Post 416,676» Audit Bureau of Circulation, March 2013

• The Dallas Morning News– In 1994, daily

circulation of 527,300

– In 2013, daily circulation of 409,265

– In 1994, Sunday circulation of 814,400

– In 2013, Sunday circulation of 697,717

• Fort Worth Star-Telegram– In 1994, about 290,000

daily circulation

– In 2013, 188,593 daily circulation

– In 1994, Sunday circulation more than 350,000

– In 2013, Sunday circulation of 297,976

• Broadsheet – A newspaper format with full-sized pages, known for staid, authoritative news coverage.

• Tabloid – A newspaper format half the size of a broadsheet, known for sensationalistic news coverage

• New York Sun – First penny press that began in New York in 1833, published by Benjamin Day.– News coverage

focused on problems of working class, not elites

• William Randolph Hearst – Newspaper magnate who ushered in era of yellow journalism, meaning sensationalistic, misleading news coverage, became one of the first chain owners of American newspapers.

• Hearst’s misleading coverage of Maine sinking in 1898 led to Spanish-American War, reportedly told a photographer, “You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the war.”

• The New York Times – Founded in 1851, this has become over time the world’s most well-known, well-respected newspaper for its thorough, investigative coverage.

• William “Boss” Tweed – Corrupt New York leader in 1860s and 1870s exposed by The New York Times, establishing the paper’s reputation.

• New York Times v. Sullivan – ‘60s Court case that made it more difficult for public figures to sue media for libel.

• Pentagon Papers – NY Times won Court case allowing it to publish secret study of Vietnam War in 1971, defying government’s demands.

Jayson Blair – Caught plagiarizing, fabricating articles for the Times in 2003

Judith Miller – Wrote stories from government sources incorrectly saying Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, fueling Iraq War build-up

• New York Daily News – Began in 1919 as a tabloid with emphasis on photos.– Emphasized crime, sex

and disaster, along with sensationalistic headlines

The Washington Post – Known primarily for 1972 coverage of Watergate by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Reporting led ultimately to Nixon becoming first president to resign from office, made famous in the movie All the President’s Men based on their book.

• Christian Science Monitor – National paper founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1908 that sought to curb sensationalism, offer solutions to world problems, became highly-respected– Became online-only in

April 2009

• The Wall Street Journal – Business newspaper founded by Charles Dow and Edward Jones in 1882, expanded and simplified by Barney Kilgore in 1930s, now nation’s second-largest circulated newspaper

• USA Today – Founded in 1982 by Allen Neuharth, marked by short stories, use of colorful graphics, bite-sized information from every state, popular with business travelers

• Chain Ownership– When one organization owns multiple media

outlets in various cities• Because newspapers were always profitable,

companies could expand profits by owning multiple newspapers.

• Examples of chains include:– Gannett (USA Today)

– Belo (The Dallas Morning News)

– McClatchy (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

• Effects of chain ownership– Local autonomy: Most chains let local editors

run each publication and focus on maximizing profits

– Profit emphasis: Some profitable newspapers must cut costs more to make up for less-producing newspapers in same chain

– Absentee ownership: When problems occur, response is delayed when ownership is based across the nation or the globe.

• Tabloids have become more popular as newsprint costs increase

• Alternative weekly newspapers often are in tabloid form, like the Dallas Observer and Fort Worth Weekly

• Shopper – Free-distribution paper with only advertising, has been a more attractive option for advertisers in recent years.