The Washington Star: Difference between revisions
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The ''Star'''s influence and circulation peaked in the [[1950s]]—it constructed a new printing plant in [[Washington DC (southeast)|Southeast Washington]] capable of printing millions of copies—but found itself unable to cope with changing times. The management was closed to new ideas: nearly all top editorial and business staff jobs were held by members of the owning families—including a Kauffman general manager who had gained a reputation for [[anti-Semitism]], driving away advertisers. [[Suburb]]anization and [[television]] were accelerating the decline of evening newspapers in favor of morning dailies. The ''Post'' meanwhile acquired its morning rival, the ''Times-Herald'', in [[1954]] and steadily drew readers and advertisers away from the falling ''Star''. |
The ''Star'''s influence and circulation peaked in the [[1950s]]—it constructed a new printing plant in [[Washington DC (southeast)|Southeast Washington]] capable of printing millions of copies—but found itself unable to cope with changing times. The management was closed to new ideas: nearly all top editorial and business staff jobs were held by members of the owning families—including a Kauffman general manager who had gained a reputation for [[anti-Semitism]], driving away advertisers. [[Suburb]]anization and [[television]] were accelerating the decline of evening newspapers in favor of morning dailies. The ''Post'' meanwhile acquired its morning rival, the ''Times-Herald'', in [[1954]] and steadily drew readers and advertisers away from the falling ''Star''. |
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In [[1973]] was targeted for clandestine purchase by the [[South African]] [[Apartheid]] government in its propaganda war. The Washington Star was seen as being favourable to the South African government at the time. [[Muldergate scandal]] / Information Scandal. |
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In early [[1975]], the owning families sold their interests in the paper to [[Joseph L. Allbritton]], a [[Texas|Texan]] multimillionaire who was known as a corporate turnaround artist. Allbritton's strategy was to use profits from the television and radio units Evening Star Broadcasting Company to shore up the newspaper's finances. The [[Federal Communications Commission]] stymied him with rules on [[concentration of media ownership|media cross-ownership]], however; the properties would be spun off in March [[1977]]. |
In early [[1975]], the owning families sold their interests in the paper to [[Joseph L. Allbritton]], a [[Texas|Texan]] multimillionaire who was known as a corporate turnaround artist. Allbritton's strategy was to use profits from the television and radio units Evening Star Broadcasting Company to shore up the newspaper's finances. The [[Federal Communications Commission]] stymied him with rules on [[concentration of media ownership|media cross-ownership]], however; the properties would be spun off in March [[1977]]. |
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Revision as of 09:13, 15 August 2005
The Washington Star, previously known as the Washington Star-News and the Washington Evening Star, was a daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. between 1852 and 1982. For most of that time it was the city's newspaper of record, and it was the longtime home to columnist Mary McGrory and cartoonist Clifford K. Berryman.
Captain Joseph Borrows Tate founded The Daily Evening Star on December 16, 1852. The following year it was purchased by Texas surveyor and newspaper entrepreneur William Douglas Wallach. Sole owner until 1867, Wallach built the paper up, capitalizing on reporting of the American Civil War. In 1867 Crosby Stuart Noyes, Samuel H. Kauffman, and Adams acquired the paper for $33,333.33 each. The paper would remain family-owned and operated for the next four generations. Its original headquarters was on Washington's "Newspaper Row" on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Clifford K. Berryman, the Washington Post cartoonist who had created the teddy bear in 1902, joined the Star in 1907. His career would continue there until his death in 1949.
The families diversified their interests, purchasing the M. A. Leese Radio Corporation on May 1, 1938 (thus acquiring Washington's oldest radio station, WMAL). Renamed the Evening Star Broadcasting Company, it would figure later in the demise of the newspaper.
The Star's influence and circulation peaked in the 1950s—it constructed a new printing plant in Southeast Washington capable of printing millions of copies—but found itself unable to cope with changing times. The management was closed to new ideas: nearly all top editorial and business staff jobs were held by members of the owning families—including a Kauffman general manager who had gained a reputation for anti-Semitism, driving away advertisers. Suburbanization and television were accelerating the decline of evening newspapers in favor of morning dailies. The Post meanwhile acquired its morning rival, the Times-Herald, in 1954 and steadily drew readers and advertisers away from the falling Star.
In 1973 was targeted for clandestine purchase by the South African Apartheid government in its propaganda war. The Washington Star was seen as being favourable to the South African government at the time. Muldergate scandal / Information Scandal.
In early 1975, the owning families sold their interests in the paper to Joseph L. Allbritton, a Texan multimillionaire who was known as a corporate turnaround artist. Allbritton's strategy was to use profits from the television and radio units Evening Star Broadcasting Company to shore up the newspaper's finances. The Federal Communications Commission stymied him with rules on media cross-ownership, however; the properties would be spun off in March 1977.
On October 1, 1975, press operators at the Post went on strike and destroyed its presses. Allbritton refused publisher Katharine Graham requested space to print the Post on the Star's presses, interpreted as treasonous by the journalistic fraternity. He also came into disagreement with editor Jim Bellows over editorial policy; Bellows left the Star for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. Unable to restore profitability, Allbritton pursued new owners.
On February 2, 1978, Time Inc. purchased the Star from Allbritton for $20 million. Their flagship magazine, Time, was archrival to Newsweek, which was published by the Washington Post Company, and the purchase seemed natural. Mismanagement continued to plague the publication, however. After 130 years, the Washington Star ceased publication on August 7, 1981.
Writers who worked at the Star at the time of its closing included Michael Isikoff (Newsweek), Howard Kurtz (Washington Post), Sheilah Kast (CNN), Jane Mayer (New Yorker), Crispin Sartwell (Creators Syndicate), and Maureen Dowd (New York Times), as well as eminences Mary McGrory and James J. Kilpatrick.
- 1944: Clifford K. Berryman, for Editorial Cartooning, "Where Is the Boat Going?"
- 1950: James T. Berryman, Editorial Cartooning, for "All Set for a Super-Secret Session in Washington."
- 1966: Haynes Johnson, for National Reporting, for his distinguished coverage of the civil rights conflict centered about Selma, Alabama, and particularly his reporting of its aftermath.
- 1974: James R. Polk, National Reporting, for his disclosure of alleged irregularities in the financing of the campaign to re-elect President Nixon in 1972.
- 1975: Mary McGrory, Commentary, for her commentary on public affairs during 1974
- 1979: Edwin M. Yoder Jr., Editorial Writing
- 1981: Jonathan Yardley, Criticism, for book reviews.
References
- Bellows, Jim. The Last Editor: Ben Bradlee and "The Ear", excerpted from The Last Editor (2002, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Kansas City).
- Castro, Janice. "Washington Loses a Newspaper," Time Magazine, August 3, 1981.
- Klaidman, Stephen. "A Tale of Two Families," The Washington Post, May 9, 1976.
- Yoder, Edwin M. "Star Wars: Adventures in Attempting to Save a Failing Newspaper," The Virginia Quarterly Review.