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{{Short description|Newspaper in Fayetteville, North Carolina}}
{{Infobox Newspapernewspaper
| name = The Fayetteville Observer
| logo name = The Fayetteville Observer (2019-10-31).svg
| image logo = <!--The [[Image:Fayetteville Observer front page.png]] (2019-10->31).svg
| image = <!-- [[Image:Fayetteville Observer front page.png]] -->
| caption = The December 4, 2006 front page of the<br />''Fayetteville Observer''
| type = Daily [[newspaper]]
| formattype = =Daily [[Broadsheetnewspaper]]
| format = [[Broadsheet]]
| foundation = 1816
| ceased publication =
| price =
| owners = [[Gannett]]
| publisher = Robert J. Gruber
| newseditor = Beth Hutson<ref name="About" />
| editor =
| opeditor = Myron B. Pitts<ref name="About" />
| circulation = 61,875 weekday <br> 65,595 Sunday, 2008<ref>{{cite web|title=Fayetteville Observer|website=Audit Bureau of Circulations|url=http://abcas3.accessabc.com/ecirc/newsform.asp|accessdate=May 25, 2008}}</ref>
| circulation = 19,427
| headquarters = 458 Whitfield Street<br/>[[Fayetteville, North Carolina]] 28306 USA▼
| circulation_date = 2018
| langugage = [[American English]]▼
| circulation_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=2018 Legacy NEWM Annual Reports |url=https://s202.q4cdn.com/162862548/files/doc_financials/2018/ar/2018-NEWM-Annual-Report.pdf |website=investors.gannett.com}}</ref>
| ISSN = 2155-9740▼
▲| headquarters = 581 458 WhitfieldExecutive StreetPlace<br/>[[Fayetteville, North Carolina]] 2830628305 USA
| oclc = 45115389▼
| publishing_city = Fayetteville
| website = {{URL|http://www.fayobserver.com}}▼
▲| langugage language = [[American English]]
▲| ISSN = 2155-9740
▲| oclc = 45115389
▲| website = {{URL|http://www.fayobserver.com}}
}}
[[File:Front Page of the Fayetteville Observer newspaper from March 9, 1865.jpg|thumb|Front page of the March 9, 1865 ''Fayetteville Observer newspaper'']]
'''''The Fayetteville Observer''''' is an American, English -language daily [[newspaper]] published in [[Fayetteville, North Carolina]]. Founded Itin was1816, locallyit owned byis the McMurrayoldest familylocal fromnewspaper 1923published toin 2016,North whenCarolina. itThe waspaper acquiredoriginally byoperated [[GateHouseas Media]],the which''Caroline becameObserver'' [[Gannett]]before inrebranding anto acquisitionthe Fayetteville Observer in 20191833.<ref>{{citeCite web |title=Fayetteville Observer {{!}} NCpedia news|url=https://www.nytimesncpedia.comorg/2019/11/14/business/media/gannettfayetteville-gatehouse-media-mergerobserver#:~:text=Image%20from%20the%20North%20Carolina,largest%20circulation%20in%20North%20Carolina.html|title=Gannett Gatehouse Merger|work=New York Times|access-date=November2023-09-07 14, 2019|authorwebsite=Tracy, Marcwww.ncpedia.org}}</ref>
 
It was locally owned by the McMurray family from 1923 to 2016, when it was acquired by [[GateHouse Media]], which became [[Gannett]] in an acquisition in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/14/business/media/gannett-gatehouse-media-merger.html|title=Gannett Gatehouse Merger|work=New York Times|date=November 14, 2019|author=Tracy, Marc}}</ref>
The paper is the oldest continuously published newspaper in North Carolina. It was founded in 1816 as the ''Carolina Observer.'' The Observer's offices were destroyed by [[William T. Sherman]]'s invading army in 1865.<ref name="NCPedia">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/fayetteville-observer|title=Fayetteville Observer|last=Parker|first=Roy|date=2006|website=NCpedia|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref> It was refounded as ''The Fayetteville Observer'' in 1883. Originally an afternoon paper, it began publishing a morning paper, ''The Fayetteville Times'', in 1973. The two papers merged as a single morning paper, ''The Fayetteville Observer-Times'', in 1990. It dropped "Times" from its flag in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fayobserver.com/customer_service/about_us/|title=Fayetteville Observer, About Us|website=Fayetteville Observer|accessdate=January 13, 2020}}</ref><ref name="LOC">{{cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn00059022/|title=Fayetteville Observer|website=Library of Congress|accessdate=January 13, 2020}}</ref>▼
 
==History==
[[File:Edward Jones Hale.jpg|thumb|upright|Edward Jones Hale, editor and owner of the ''Fayetteville Observer'' 1825–1865]]
▲The paper''Fayetteville Observer'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper in [[North Carolina]]. It was founded in 1816 as the ''Carolina Observer''. The ''Fayetteville Observer'' was not published between 1865 and 1883, so the Wilmington ''[[Star-News]]'' (founded in 1867) is North Carolina's oldest continually published newspaper. The name was changed to the ''Fayetteville Observer'' in 1833. The ''Observer''{{'}}s offices were destroyed by [[William T. Sherman]]'s invading army in 1865.<ref name="NCPedia">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/fayetteville-observer|title=Fayetteville Observer|last=Parker|first=Roy|date=2006|website=NCpedia|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref> It was refounded as ''The Fayetteville Observer'' in 1883. W. J. OriginallyMcMurray anbought afternoonthe paper, it began publishing a morning paper, ''The Fayetteville Times'', in 1973. The two papers merged as a single morning paper1923, ''Theand Fayettevillehis Observerfamily-Times'',owned inFayetteville 1990.Publishing Company Itran droppedthe "Times" frompaper itsfor flagfour in 1999generations.<ref name="About">{{cite web |title=Fayetteville Observer, About Us |url=httphttps://www.fayobserver.com/customer_servicecontact/about_usstaff/ |titleaccess-date=FayettevilleJanuary Observer13, About2020 Us|website=Fayetteville Observer|accessdate=January 13, 2020}}</ref><ref name="LOC">{{cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn00059022/|title=Fayetteville Observer|website=Library of Congress|accessdateaccess-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/fayetteville-observer/|title=Fayetteville Observer|author=Williams, Shane|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref>
 
Edward Jones Hale was the editor of the newspaper from 1825 to 1865. The paper was a leading supporter of the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]] party. The content of the paper during this time period included many historical articles about North Carolina and accounts of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. The Hale family moved to New York after the newspaper buildings were destroyed in the Civil War. His son, [[Edward J. Hale|Edward Joseph Hale]] returned to North Carolina in 1883 to revive the newspaper and continued ownership of the newspaper until 1919 when it was sold to a group of local businessmen.<ref name="NCPedia" />
 
The Fayetteville Publishing Company was founded in 1923. A Sunday edition of the paper was started in 1957. Originally an afternoon paper, it began publishing a morning paper, ''The Fayetteville Times'', in 1973. The two papers published combined editions on Sunday, and from 1982 onward published a combined Saturday edition as well. In 1990, the McMurrays merged the ''Observer'' and ''Times'' into a single morning paper, ''The Fayetteville Observer-Times.'' It dropped "Times" from its flag in 1999.<ref name="About"/> The ''Fayetteville Observer'' launched its first website in 1995 and it has a presence on Facebook for distribution of news and interaction with readers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/fayobserver/|title = The Fayetteville Observer| website=Facebook|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref>
 
==Awards==
''The Fayetteville Observer'' is a member of the [[North Carolina Press Association]]. The newspaper has received the following awards:<ref name=NCPA>{{cite web |url= http://www.ncpress.com/directory/ |title= Member Directory |publisher= North Carolina Press Association |access-date= March 20, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170320232927/http://www.ncpress.com/directory/ |archive-date= March 20, 2017 |url-status= live }}</ref>
* 2002, recognized as one of the 50 best-printed papers in an international color-quality competition<ref name="About" />
* 2010, 2011, 1st place in excellence for large newspapers, awarded by the North Carolina Press Association<ref name="About" />
* 2018, Melissa Sue Gerrits, Hugh Morton Photographer of the Year, North Carolina Press Association; 1st Place in General Excellence<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdn1.creativecirclemedia.com/ncpress/files/20190426-114419-2018-Ed-Tab-print-singles-d2.pdf|title=2018 Editorial Awards|website=NC Press Association|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref>
 
==See also==
Line 36 ⟶ 54:
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fayetteville Observer, The}}
[[Category:MediaMass media in Fayetteville, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in North Carolina]]▼
[[Category:Gannett publications]]
[[Category:Daily newspaperesnewspapers published in North Carolina]]
[[Category:1816 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Publications established in 1816]]
 
▲[[Category:Newspapers published inFayetteville, North Carolina]]
{{NorthCarolina-newspaper-stub}}

Latest revision as of 02:32, 14 December 2023

The Fayetteville Observer
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatBroadsheet
Owner(s)Gannett
News editorBeth Hutson[1]
Opinion editorMyron B. Pitts[1]
Founded1816
LanguageAmerican English
Headquarters581 Executive Place
Fayetteville, North Carolina 28305 USA
CityFayetteville
Circulation19,427 (as of 2018)[2]
ISSN2155-9740
OCLC number45115389
Websitefayobserver.com
Front page of the March 9, 1865 Fayetteville Observer

The Fayetteville Observer is an American English-language daily newspaper published in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Founded in 1816, it is the oldest local newspaper published in North Carolina. The paper originally operated as the Caroline Observer before rebranding to the Fayetteville Observer in 1833.[3]

It was locally owned by the McMurray family from 1923 to 2016, when it was acquired by GateHouse Media, which became Gannett in an acquisition in 2019.[4]

History[edit]

Edward Jones Hale, editor and owner of the Fayetteville Observer 1825–1865

The Fayetteville Observer is the oldest newspaper in North Carolina. It was founded in 1816 as the Carolina Observer. The Fayetteville Observer was not published between 1865 and 1883, so the Wilmington Star-News (founded in 1867) is North Carolina's oldest continually published newspaper. The name was changed to the Fayetteville Observer in 1833. The Observer's offices were destroyed by William T. Sherman's invading army in 1865.[5] It was refounded as The Fayetteville Observer in 1883. W. J. McMurray bought the paper in 1923, and his family-owned Fayetteville Publishing Company ran the paper for four generations.[1][6][7]

Edward Jones Hale was the editor of the newspaper from 1825 to 1865. The paper was a leading supporter of the Whig party. The content of the paper during this time period included many historical articles about North Carolina and accounts of the Civil War. The Hale family moved to New York after the newspaper buildings were destroyed in the Civil War. His son, Edward Joseph Hale returned to North Carolina in 1883 to revive the newspaper and continued ownership of the newspaper until 1919 when it was sold to a group of local businessmen.[5]

The Fayetteville Publishing Company was founded in 1923. A Sunday edition of the paper was started in 1957. Originally an afternoon paper, it began publishing a morning paper, The Fayetteville Times, in 1973. The two papers published combined editions on Sunday, and from 1982 onward published a combined Saturday edition as well. In 1990, the McMurrays merged the Observer and Times into a single morning paper, The Fayetteville Observer-Times. It dropped "Times" from its flag in 1999.[1] The Fayetteville Observer launched its first website in 1995 and it has a presence on Facebook for distribution of news and interaction with readers.[8]

Awards[edit]

The Fayetteville Observer is a member of the North Carolina Press Association. The newspaper has received the following awards:[9]

  • 2002, recognized as one of the 50 best-printed papers in an international color-quality competition[1]
  • 2010, 2011, 1st place in excellence for large newspapers, awarded by the North Carolina Press Association[1]
  • 2018, Melissa Sue Gerrits, Hugh Morton Photographer of the Year, North Carolina Press Association; 1st Place in General Excellence[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Fayetteville Observer, About Us". Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  2. ^ "2018 Legacy NEWM Annual Reports" (PDF). investors.gannett.com. 2018.
  3. ^ "Fayetteville Observer | NCpedia". www.ncpedia.org. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  4. ^ Tracy, Marc (November 14, 2019). "Gannett Gatehouse Merger". New York Times.
  5. ^ a b Parker, Roy (2006). "Fayetteville Observer". NCpedia. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
  6. ^ "Fayetteville Observer". Library of Congress. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  7. ^ Williams, Shane. "Fayetteville Observer". Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "The Fayetteville Observer". Facebook. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  9. ^ "Member Directory". North Carolina Press Association. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  10. ^ "2018 Editorial Awards" (PDF). NC Press Association. Retrieved January 16, 2020.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Fayetteville_Observer&oldid=1189799142"