The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a rich history that dates back to 1878. It was founded by Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian-born journalist who would later go on to purchase the New York World.
The newspaper has been published continuously since its founding, with a few brief interruptions. It's a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the staff over the years.
The Post-Dispatch has had its fair share of notable editors and publishers, including Pulitzer himself, who is credited with transforming the newspaper into a national publication. He implemented a number of innovative features, including the use of photographs and a more modern layout.
Today, the Post-Dispatch is still a major newspaper in the St. Louis area, with a strong online presence and a commitment to in-depth reporting and investigative journalism.
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History of the Post-Dispatch
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a rich history dating back to 1878, when Joseph Pulitzer purchased the bankrupt St. Louis Dispatch and merged it with the St. Louis Evening Post to create the St. Louis Post and Dispatch.
In its early years, the Post-Dispatch was known for its investigative journalism, including a series of articles questioning James Overton Broadhead's role in a lawsuit between a gaslight company and the city. This led to a dramatic confrontation between Broadhead's friend Alonzo W. Slayback and managing editor John A. Cockerill, which ended in Slayback's death.
The Post-Dispatch was one of the first daily newspapers to print a comics section in color, on the back page of the features section, styled the "Everyday Magazine." This innovative approach helped to set the paper apart from its competitors.
After Joseph Pulitzer's retirement, his great-grandson Joseph Pulitzer IV left the company in 1995, marking the end of the Pulitzer family's involvement with the newspaper. The Post-Dispatch was characterized by a liberal editorial page and columnists, including Marquis Childs and Bill Mauldin, who both won Pulitzer Prizes for their work.
The Post-Dispatch was a pioneer in international coverage, sending a reporter to Brazil to cover the 1950 FIFA World Cup. In 1959, the paper entered into a joint operating agreement with the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, which lasted until the Globe-Democrat folded in 1983.
Here are some notable achievements of the Post-Dispatch:
- Covered Charles Lindbergh's historic flight across the Atlantic.
- Won a Pulitzer Prize for a campaign to clean up smoke pollution in St. Louis.
- Covered the St. Louis Cardinals' nine championships and the St. Louis Rams' 2000 Super Bowl victory.
- Featured stories on cultural icons like Kate Chopin, Tennessee Williams, Chuck Berry, and Miles Davis.
Post-Dispatch Operations
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has undergone significant changes in its operations over the years. The paper's circulation has been declining, dropping from 213,472 to 191,631 and then 178,801 for the two years after 2010.
The paper has been shifting its focus to digital media, with its website stltoday.com receiving roughly 67 million page views a month. This is a significant increase from the paper's average monthly website page views of more than 30 million at the end of its most recent fiscal year.
The Post-Dispatch has also made changes to its printing operations, outsourcing its printing to a press in Columbia, Missouri, owned by Gannett. This move will result in cost savings, but also means that news that breaks in the evening will not be included in the morning paper.
To put the Post-Dispatch's circulation numbers into perspective, here are some key statistics:
The Post-Dispatch has also made significant changes to its staff, laying off 72 press employees in January and six newsroom staffers last month.
Notable People and Events
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a rich history of notable people who have contributed to its success. One of its most famous writers was Bob Broeg, a Hall of Fame baseball writer, who worked for the paper from 1946 to 2004.
The paper has also been home to many talented cartoonists, including Jacob Burck, who worked as a political cartoonist from 1937 to 1938. Oscar Chopin was another notable cartoonist, working for the paper from 1903 to 1910.
Several notable journalists have also made significant contributions to the paper, including Richard Dudman, who served as national affairs correspondent and Washington bureau chief from 1950 to 1981. Joe Mahr won a Pulitzer Prize as an investigative journalist while working for the paper from 2006 to 2009.
The paper has also been led by several notable editors and publishers, including Joseph Pulitzer, who founded the paper in 1878. William Woo served as the paper's editor-in-chief from 1962 to 1996.
Here are some of the notable people who have worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
- Jerry Berger, society columnist, 1980–2004
- Bob Broeg, Hall of Fame baseball writer, 1946–2004
- Jacob Burck, political cartoonist, 1937–1938
- Cole Charles Campbell, editor, 1996–2000
- Oscar Chopin, cartoonist, 1903–1910
- Richard Dudman, national affairs correspondent and Washington bureau chief, 1950–1981
- Derrick Goold, author and sportswriter
- Rick Hummel, Hall of Fame baseball writer, 1971–2023
- Clair Kenamore, foreign correspondent, telegraph editor, feature writer and Sunday magazine editor, early 20th century
- Joe Mahr, Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist, 2006–2009
- Rose Marion, feature writer (c. 1875–1947)
- Dan Martin, Weatherbird cartoonist
- Harry B. Martin, cartoonist and golf writer
- S. Carlisle Martin, cartoonist and illustrator
- Marguerite Martyn, reporter and artist (c. 1880–1948)
- Bill Mauldin, cartoonist
- Bernie Miklasz, sports columnist, 1985–2015
- Robert Minor, political cartoonist, 1907–1911
- Charlie Ross, chief Washington correspondent and editor, 1918–1945
- Neal Russo, baseball writer, 1947–1990
- Albert Schweitzer, cartoonist
- Elaine Viets, columnist, 1975–2000
- Rosa Kershaw Walker, society column, 1870s
- Joe Williams, film critic, 1996–2015
- Amadee Wohlschlaeger, sports and Weatherbird cartoonist
- William Woo, journalist and editor-in-chief, 1962–1996
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has been making headlines lately. The newspaper has ended its Monday paper due to plummeting subscriptions. Owner Lee Enterprises also closed St. Louis food publication Feast last week and let go of its staff.
The Post-Dispatch has been taking steps to cut costs. It will stop printing locally and outsource printing to Columbia, Missouri. This move will affect 72 press employees who will be laid off.
The newspaper's owner, Lee Enterprises, has been facing financial struggles. A hedge fund's takeover of the company has ended, but investors are bracing for a decline in advertising sales. This is a challenging business climate for newspapers like the Post-Dispatch and the Omaha World-Herald.
A lawsuit against Lee Enterprises, the owner of the Post-Dispatch, will proceed. A judge ruled that information sharing is comparable to video-store rentals, a point that will be argued in the case.
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Here are some key facts about the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
- Owner Lee Enterprises has been taking cost-cutting measures, including closing St. Louis food publication Feast and laying off 72 press employees.
- The Post-Dispatch will stop printing locally and outsource printing to Columbia, Missouri.
- A lawsuit against Lee Enterprises will proceed, with the judge comparing information sharing to video-store rentals.
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