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{{Short description|Former major newspaper in Cleveland, Ohi}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Infobox newspaper
{{Infobox newspaper
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| type = Daily newspaper
| type = Daily newspaper
| format = [[Broadsheet]]
| format = [[Broadsheet]]
| foundation = 1878
| foundation = {{start date|1878|11|2}}
| ceased publication = 1982
| ceased publication = {{end date|1982|6|17}}
| owners = [[Scripps-Howard]]; [[Joseph E. Cole]]
| owners = [[Scripps-Howard]]; [[Joseph E. Cole]]
| headquarters = [[Cleveland]], Ohio, US
| headquarters = [[Cleveland]], Ohio, US
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| website =
| website =
}}
}}
The '''''Cleveland Press''''' was a daily American newspaper published in [[Cleveland]], Ohio from November 2, 1878, through June 17, 1982. From 1928 to 1966, the paper's editor was [[Louis B. Seltzer]].
The '''''Cleveland Press''''' was a daily American newspaper published in [[Cleveland]], Ohio from November 2, 1878, through June 17, 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/06/17/The-103-year-old-Cleveland-Press-once-one-of-the-nations/3198393134400/ |title=The 103-year-old Cleveland Press, once one of the nation's... |work=UPI |author=
Mike Casey |date=June 17, 1982 |accessdate=May 9, 2019}}</ref> From 1928 to 1966, the paper's editor was [[Louis B. Seltzer]].


Known for many years as one of the country's most influential newspapers for its focus on working class issues, its neighborhood orientation, its promotion of public service, and its editorial involvement in political campaigns at the state and local levels,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=CP3|title=CLEVELAND PRESS – The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History|date=Last Modified – July 14, 1997|work=The Encyclopedia of Cleveland|publisher=A joint effort by Case Western University and the Western Reserve Historical Society|accessdate=February 16, 2013}}</ref> the paper may best be remembered for its controversial role in the 1954 [[Sam Sheppard]] murder case.
Known for many years as one of the country's most influential newspapers for its focus on working class issues, its neighborhood orientation, its promotion of public service, and its editorial involvement in political campaigns at the state and local levels,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=CP3|title=CLEVELAND PRESS – The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History|date=July 14, 1997|work=The Encyclopedia of Cleveland|publisher=A joint effort by Case Western University and the Western Reserve Historical Society|accessdate=February 16, 2013}}</ref> the paper may best be remembered for its controversial role in the 1954 [[Sam Sheppard]] murder case.


==History==
==History==
The paper was founded by [[Edward W. Scripps]] as the ''Penny Press'' in 1878, a name that was shortened to the ''Press'' in 1884, before finally becoming the ''Cleveland Press'' in 1889. By the turn of the century, the ''Press'' had become Cleveland's leading daily newspaper, bypassing its main competitor, ''[[The Plain Dealer]]''.
The paper was founded by [[Edward W. Scripps]] as the ''Penny Press'' in 1878. It was the first newspaper in what would become the [[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps-Howard]] chain. The name that was shortened to the ''Press'' in 1884, before finally becoming the ''Cleveland Press'' in 1889. By the turn of the century, the ''Press'' had become Cleveland's leading daily newspaper, bypassing its main competitor, ''[[The Plain Dealer]]''.


During the 1920s, the ''Press'' reached nearly 200,000 in circulation and stood out by proposing the [[city manager]] form of government for Cleveland, while also supporting [[Progressivism in the United States|Progressive]] candidate [[Robert M. La Follette, Sr.]] for [[United States presidential election, 1924|president in 1924]]. [[Louis B. Seltzer]] became the paper's 12th editor in 1928, and stressed the area's neighborhoods, promoting the slogan "The Newspaper That Serves Its Readers."
During the 1920s, the ''Press'' reached nearly 200,000 in circulation and stood out by proposing the [[city manager]] form of government for Cleveland, while also supporting [[Progressivism in the United States|Progressive]] candidate [[Robert M. La Follette Sr.]] for [[1924 United States presidential election|president in 1924]]. [[Louis B. Seltzer]] became the paper's 12th editor in 1928, and stressed the area's neighborhoods, promoting the slogan "The Newspaper That Serves Its Readers."


The paper endorsed winning mayoral candidates [[Frank J. Lausche]] and [[Anthony J. Celebrezze]].
The paper endorsed winning mayoral candidates [[Frank J. Lausche]] and [[Anthony J. Celebrezze]].


However, the ''Press'' was criticized for its role, led by editor-in-chief Louis B. Seltzer, in the conviction of [[Sam Sheppard|Dr. Sam Sheppard]] in 1954 for the murder of his wife, Marilyn. A Federal judge stated, "If ever there was a trial by newspaper, this is a perfect example. And the most insidious example was the Cleveland Press. For some reason that newspaper took upon itself the role of accuser, judge and jury."<ref>{{cite book |last=Neff |first=James |year=2001 |title=The Wrong Man |location=New York |publisher=Random House |page=230}}</ref> The appeals process eventually made its way to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]]. The paper's aggressive coverage that goaded local officials and potentially prejudiced the jury resulted in a ruling that pre-trial publicity had been injurious to Sheppard. It was a major reason why a new trial was ordered where Sheppard was acquitted in 1966.<ref>[http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=384&invol=333 ''Sheppard v. Maxwell''], 384 U.S. 333, 358 (1964) (U.S. Supreme Court)</ref>
However, the ''Press'' was criticized for its role, led by editor-in-chief Louis B. Seltzer, in the conviction of [[Sam Sheppard|Dr. Sam Sheppard]] in 1954 for the murder of his wife, Marilyn. A Federal judge stated, "If ever there was a trial by newspaper, this is a perfect example. And the most insidious example was the Cleveland Press. For some reason that newspaper took upon itself the role of accuser, judge and jury."<ref>{{cite book |last=Neff |first=James |year=2001 |title=The Wrong Man |url=https://archive.org/details/wrongmanfinalver00neff |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=Random House |page=[https://archive.org/details/wrongmanfinalver00neff/page/230 230]}}</ref> The appeals process eventually made its way to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]]. The paper's aggressive coverage that goaded local officials and potentially prejudiced the jury resulted in a ruling that pre-trial publicity had been injurious to Sheppard. It was a major reason why a new trial was ordered where Sheppard was acquitted in 1966.<ref>[http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=384&invol=333 ''Sheppard v. Maxwell''], 384 U.S. 333, 358 (1964) (U.S. Supreme Court)</ref>


In January 1960, the paper's owner, the [[Scripps-Howard]] newspaper chain, purchased ''Press'' rival the ''[[Cleveland News]]'' (also an afternoon paper) and merged it with the ''Press'' giving the city one afternoon newspaper under the ''Press'' banner.<ref name=upi>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19600124&id=vIBVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Bz8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4286,2633939 | title=''Cleveland News'' Bought by Scripps|publisher=[[UPI]] via ''[[The Miami News]]''|date=January 24, 1960}}</ref> Four years later, the ''Press'' was named one of America's 10 best newspapers in a list compiled by ''[[Time magazine]]'', but under Seltzer's successor, [[Thomas L. Boardman]], the ''Press'' began a decline that was shared in general with other large afternoon dailies throughout the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ech.case.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=CP3 |title=Cleveland Press |work=The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History |author=David D. Van Tassel (Editor) and John J. Grabowski (Editor) |location=Cleveland, Ohio |isbn=0-253-33056-4 |date=July 14, 1997 |accessdate=February 28, 2012}}</ref>
In January 1960, Scripps-Howard purchased ''Press'' rival the ''[[Cleveland News]]'' (also an afternoon paper) and merged it with the ''Press'' giving the city one afternoon newspaper under the ''Press'' banner.<ref name=upi>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19600124&id=vIBVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Bz8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4286,2633939 | title=''Cleveland News'' Bought by Scripps|publisher=[[UPI]] via [[The Miami News]]|date=January 24, 1960}}</ref> Four years later, the ''Press'' was named one of America's 10 best newspapers in a list compiled by ''[[Time magazine]]'', but under Seltzer's successor, [[Thomas L. Boardman]], the ''Press'' began a decline that was shared in general with other large afternoon dailies throughout the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ech.case.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=CP3 |title=Cleveland Press |work=The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History |editor-last1=Van Tassel |editor-first1=David D. |editor-last2=Grabowski |editor-first2=John J. |location=Cleveland, Ohio |isbn=0-253-33056-4 |date=July 14, 1997 |accessdate=February 28, 2012}}</ref>


The ''Press'' was passed in circulation by ''The Plain Dealer'' in 1968, and after Boardman's retirement in 1979, rumors began circulating that the ''Press'' would shortly suspend publication unless a buyer could be found. Scripps-Howard sold the paper on October 31, 1980, to Cleveland businessman [[Joseph E. Cole]], who purchased the paper only after gaining concessions from the employee unions.
The ''Press'' was passed in circulation by ''The Plain Dealer'' in 1968, and after Boardman's retirement in 1979, rumors began circulating that the ''Press'' would shortly suspend publication unless a buyer could be found. Scripps-Howard sold the paper on October 31, 1980, to Cleveland businessman [[Joseph E. Cole]], who purchased the paper only after gaining concessions from the employee unions.


=== Closing ===
Cole introduced a Sunday edition on August 2, 1981, followed by a morning edition on March 22, 1982. However, a bad economy, coupled with losses in advertising resulted in the paper's closing just three months later.
Cole introduced a Sunday edition on August 2, 1981, followed by a morning edition on March 22, 1982. The morning edition was sold on newsstands only. Color presses were introduced, and circulation increased from 303,400 in March 1981 to 316,100 a year later. However, a bad economy, coupled with losses in advertising resulted in the paper's closing. Its final issue was published on June 17, 1982.<ref>{{cite news |title=Press Halts Publication |url=https://clevelandmemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/press/id/3431 |access-date=May 24, 2022 |work=Cleveland Press |date=June 17, 1982 |language=en |quote=The Cleveland Press, one of the nation's oldest newspapers and an important voice in Greater Cleveland for more than a century, ceased publication with today's editions.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1982-06-17 |title=Cleveland Press Publishes Its Last Edition |pages=31 |work=Rapid City Journal |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118422240/cleveland-press-closing-ap/ |access-date=2023-02-11|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>


The remnants of the paper live on in the Cleveland Press Collection at the [[Cleveland State University]] library. The collection consists of clippings and photographs from the newspaper's archives. Among the paper's foremost writers from the 1940s–1970s were Jack Ballantine and [[Dick Feagler]].
The remnants of the paper live on in the Cleveland Press Collection at the [[Cleveland State University]] library. The collection consists of clippings and photographs from the newspaper's archives. Among the paper's foremost writers from the 1940s–1970s were Jack Ballantine and [[Dick Feagler]].

==See also==
*''[[The Akron Press]]''


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal|Cleveland, Ohio}}
*[http://www.clevelandmemory.org/press/ Cleveland Press Collection]
*[http://www.clevelandmemory.org/press/ Cleveland Press Collection]


{{EWS CORP}}
{{EWS CORP}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Newspapers published in Cleveland]]
[[Category:Defunct newspapers published in Cleveland]]
[[Category:Defunct newspapers of Ohio]]
[[Category:Daily newspapers published in the United States]]
[[Category:Daily newspapers published in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Cleveland]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Cleveland]]
[[Category:Publications disestablished in 1982]]

Latest revision as of 17:07, 19 August 2023

Cleveland Press
Nameplate for the Cleveland Press, circa 1978
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatBroadsheet
Owner(s)Scripps-Howard; Joseph E. Cole
EditorJoseph E. Cole
FoundedNovember 2, 1878 (1878-11-02)
Ceased publicationJune 17, 1982 (1982-06-17)
HeadquartersCleveland, Ohio, US

The Cleveland Press was a daily American newspaper published in Cleveland, Ohio from November 2, 1878, through June 17, 1982.[1] From 1928 to 1966, the paper's editor was Louis B. Seltzer.

Known for many years as one of the country's most influential newspapers for its focus on working class issues, its neighborhood orientation, its promotion of public service, and its editorial involvement in political campaigns at the state and local levels,[2] the paper may best be remembered for its controversial role in the 1954 Sam Sheppard murder case.

History[edit]

The paper was founded by Edward W. Scripps as the Penny Press in 1878. It was the first newspaper in what would become the Scripps-Howard chain. The name that was shortened to the Press in 1884, before finally becoming the Cleveland Press in 1889. By the turn of the century, the Press had become Cleveland's leading daily newspaper, bypassing its main competitor, The Plain Dealer.

During the 1920s, the Press reached nearly 200,000 in circulation and stood out by proposing the city manager form of government for Cleveland, while also supporting Progressive candidate Robert M. La Follette Sr. for president in 1924. Louis B. Seltzer became the paper's 12th editor in 1928, and stressed the area's neighborhoods, promoting the slogan "The Newspaper That Serves Its Readers."

The paper endorsed winning mayoral candidates Frank J. Lausche and Anthony J. Celebrezze.

However, the Press was criticized for its role, led by editor-in-chief Louis B. Seltzer, in the conviction of Dr. Sam Sheppard in 1954 for the murder of his wife, Marilyn. A Federal judge stated, "If ever there was a trial by newspaper, this is a perfect example. And the most insidious example was the Cleveland Press. For some reason that newspaper took upon itself the role of accuser, judge and jury."[3] The appeals process eventually made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The paper's aggressive coverage that goaded local officials and potentially prejudiced the jury resulted in a ruling that pre-trial publicity had been injurious to Sheppard. It was a major reason why a new trial was ordered where Sheppard was acquitted in 1966.[4]

In January 1960, Scripps-Howard purchased Press rival the Cleveland News (also an afternoon paper) and merged it with the Press giving the city one afternoon newspaper under the Press banner.[5] Four years later, the Press was named one of America's 10 best newspapers in a list compiled by Time magazine, but under Seltzer's successor, Thomas L. Boardman, the Press began a decline that was shared in general with other large afternoon dailies throughout the country.[6]

The Press was passed in circulation by The Plain Dealer in 1968, and after Boardman's retirement in 1979, rumors began circulating that the Press would shortly suspend publication unless a buyer could be found. Scripps-Howard sold the paper on October 31, 1980, to Cleveland businessman Joseph E. Cole, who purchased the paper only after gaining concessions from the employee unions.

Closing[edit]

Cole introduced a Sunday edition on August 2, 1981, followed by a morning edition on March 22, 1982. The morning edition was sold on newsstands only. Color presses were introduced, and circulation increased from 303,400 in March 1981 to 316,100 a year later. However, a bad economy, coupled with losses in advertising resulted in the paper's closing. Its final issue was published on June 17, 1982.[7][8]

The remnants of the paper live on in the Cleveland Press Collection at the Cleveland State University library. The collection consists of clippings and photographs from the newspaper's archives. Among the paper's foremost writers from the 1940s–1970s were Jack Ballantine and Dick Feagler.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mike Casey (June 17, 1982). "The 103-year-old Cleveland Press, once one of the nation's..." UPI. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  2. ^ "CLEVELAND PRESS – The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland. A joint effort by Case Western University and the Western Reserve Historical Society. July 14, 1997. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  3. ^ Neff, James (2001). The Wrong Man. New York: Random House. p. 230.
  4. ^ Sheppard v. Maxwell, 384 U.S. 333, 358 (1964) (U.S. Supreme Court)
  5. ^ "Cleveland News Bought by Scripps". UPI via The Miami News. January 24, 1960.
  6. ^ Van Tassel, David D.; Grabowski, John J., eds. (July 14, 1997). "Cleveland Press". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Cleveland, Ohio. ISBN 0-253-33056-4. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  7. ^ "Press Halts Publication". Cleveland Press. June 17, 1982. Retrieved May 24, 2022. The Cleveland Press, one of the nation's oldest newspapers and an important voice in Greater Cleveland for more than a century, ceased publication with today's editions.
  8. ^ "Cleveland Press Publishes Its Last Edition". Rapid City Journal. Associated Press. June 17, 1982. p. 31. Retrieved February 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

Further reading[edit]

  • Tidyman, John (2009). Gimme Rewrite, Sweetheart: Tales From the Last Glory Days of Cleveland Newspapers—Told By The Men and Women Who Reported the News. Cleveland, OH: Gray & Company, Publishers. ISBN 978-1-59851-016-4

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cleveland_Press&oldid=1171202120"