 The July 27, 2005 front page of TheOakland Tribune | |
| Type | Weeklynewspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner | Digital First Media |
| Founder(s) | George Staniford Benet A. Dewes |
| Publisher | Sharon Ryan |
| Editor | Bert Robinson |
| Founded | February 21, 1874; 151 years ago (1874-02-21) |
| Ceased publication | 2016 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | San Jose,California,U.S. |
| Sister newspapers | The Mercury News, East Bay Times |
| ISSN | 1068-5936 |
| OCLC number | 760300116 |
| Website | eastbaytimes.com/oakland |
| Free online archives | California Digital Newspaper Collection |
TheOakland Tribune was a dailynewspaper published inOakland, California from 1874 to 2016 when it was merged into theEast Bay Times by its owner,Bay Area News Group.[1][2][3]
On February 21, 1874, theOakland Daily Tribune was founded by editor George Staniford and printer Benet "Ben" A. Dewes.[4] At that time the competition was theOakland News andOakland Transcript. The paper's first editorial stated, "There seems to be an open field for a journal like theTribune in Oakland, and we accordingly proceed to occupy it, presenting theTribune, which is intended to be a permanent daily paper, deriving its support solely from advertising patronage."[5]
That August, Staniford sold his half interest to Dewes.[6][7] The paper's office moved to 911 Broadway in January 1875.[8] A.B. Gibson joined Dewes as co-owner in February 1876.[9] The partnership soon dissolved and A. E. Nightingill bought a half-interest.[10]
In July 1876, Dewes sold theOakland Daily Evening Tribune toWilliam E. Dargie,[11][12] a former student ofCalifornia State University. He soon secured wire service dispatch's from theAssociated Press for the paper.[13] Darige also bought Nightingill's stake,[14] although his widow disputed the transaction having ever occurred.[15] Under Dargie's management, the paper increased in size, circulation and influence. The Republican paper became the leading news publication in Alameda County.[16]
Dargie was a news innovator in several ways: 1876, wire service dispatches; 1877, a book and job department added; 1878, when the Bell Telephone System arrived in Oakland, one of the first telephones was installed at theTribune- Number 46; 1883, a Saturday edition was introduced; 1887, special editions; 1888, an extra for the presidential election.
On August 28, 1891, the nameTheOakland Tribune was officially adopted.[17] Prior names includeOakland Daily Tribune, theOakland Evening Tribune and theOakland Daily Evening Tribune. Dargie had news offices in New York and Chicago. Dargie also acquired a patent approved R. Hoe & Co. double cylinder press.
In the early 1900s, Dargie hired a one-eyed lensman Jack Gunin, making him probably the first full-timephotojournalist in theWestern United States.[17]
In 1906, theTribune added a Sunday edition.
The newspapers of San Francisco were destroyed in theearthquake and fire of April 18, 1906. TheTribune printed many "extras." Dargie lent theTribune's presses for a joint edition of theSan Francisco Call-Chronicle-Examiner. In the aftermath of the conflagration, San Francisco MayorEugene E. Schmitz, declared theOakland Tribune the official San Francisco newspaper.
The circulation grew as displaced San Franciscans moved to Oakland andAlameda County. TheTribune's editorial direction was then under Managing Editor John Conners. After 35 years as publisher, William E. Dargie died on February 10, 1911. Former Oakland Mayor Melvin C. Chapman served as acting president of the Tribune Publishing Company.Bruno Albert Forsterer (1869–1957), was publisher and general manager. He was executor of Dargie's estate. Bruno and his son, Harold B. Forsterer, also served the Knowlands and theTribune.
In 1911, Dargie died.[16] After five terms in theUnited States House of Representatives,Joseph R. Knowland (1873–1966) purchased theOakland Tribune from Dargie's widow, Hermina Peralta Dargie. In his first edition as publisher of the Oakland Tribune, November 14, 1915, he wrote, "It is perfectly understood that what theTribune does, rather than what it promises, will determine the true measure of its worth; and with that understanding, theTribune, under its new control, girds to its work."
Knowland moved theTribune to a new location at 13th and Franklin Streets on March 25, 1918. Under Knowland, theTribune became one-third of a triumvirate of California Republican newspapers with conservative viewpoints, along with theLos Angeles Times andSan Francisco Chronicle. TheTribune endorsed Republican candidates and "J.R." (as Knowland was widely known) often picked and controlled Republican elected officials. The Tribune would make many political careers, the most noted being Knowland's own sonWilliam F. Knowland andEarl Warren.
In 1921, Knowland started radio stationKLX and his newspaper library. The 305 feet tall[18]Tribune Tower, an Oakland landmark, was completed in 1923. The Tribune moved its business into the tower in 1924.[19]The Tribune Publishing Corporation, was founded by Knowland on January 4, 1928. The publishing corporation held interests inKLX, part owner of a paper mill in Tacoma, Washington and subsidiary businesses, U-Bild, Tower Graphics and Tribune Features, Inc.
In the mid-1930s, J.R. tied in with the Associated Press Wirephoto Service. He had a direct wire link for international news from London, England. The mast head logo, which became an icon of the paper, showed Oakland, a port to the world and nation. The logo changed with the times: the Tower, transport ship and steam locomotive; in later years, the Tower, theBay Bridge, larger transport ship, diesel engine, the china clipper and later, a jet airplane.
On September 1, 1950, theTribune became the sole Oakland daily newspaper, with the demise of its competitor,William Randolph Hearst'sOakland Post Enquirer.[20]
In 1960, Joseph R. Knowland's son, formerU.S. SenatorWilliam F. Knowland (1908–1974), was named editor; he had shared being assistant publisher with his brother, Joseph Russell "Russ" Knowland, Jr. (1901–1961), since 1933. Russ Knowland's 1961 death made his brother Bill sole successor to their father.
On February 1, 1966, Joseph R. Knowland died at the age of 92. William F. Knowland was appointed president and publisher. His son, Joseph William Knowland became vice-president and general manager. Bill Knowland added to the logo,A Responsible Metropolitan Newspaper. The Senator had assumed duties as theTribune's publisher and editor. He became the president ofThe Tribune Publishing Corporation.
Under Bill Knowland's ownership, theTribune had aconservative editorial position and a reputation for being strongly pro-business. As the city of Oakland became more ethnically and politically diverse in the 1960s and 1970s, the Tribune was unable to respond quickly enough to the demographic changes (and the political and social unrest exemplified, among other factors, by theUniversity of California, Berkeley,student uprisings and theBlack Panther movement).
TheTribune's readership declined after the early 1960s as a large portion of the paper's traditional subscription base relocated to the newly developing suburbs south and east of Oakland. In southernAlameda County, the readership went to Floyd Sparks'sThe (Hayward) Daily Review and inContra Costa County toDean Lesher'sContra Costa Times.
In 1973, Bill Knowland wrote inFortune magazine, "Any city needs a means of communication between the diverse members of its community. Communication is essential."
Bill Knowland's personal life would soon affect theOakland Tribune. Two days after theTribune celebrated its 100th anniversary on February 21, 1974, William F. Knowland committed suicide. On the death of their father, Joseph William Knowland (1930-2019), became theTribune's editor and publisher; Emelyn K. Jewett (1929–1988) became president ofThe Tribune Publishing Corporation.
The California Press Association honored Joseph W. Knowland, as the winner of the 1975,Publisher of the Year award. This honor was bestowed on Joe Knowland for his progressive innovations in the operations and makeup of the newspaper.[21]
In 1977, the Knowland Family sold theOakland Tribune for $15.8 million to Combined Communications Corporation of Arizona, which ownedThe Cincinnati Enquirer, seven television stations, six radio stations and 10 outdoor advertising companies.[22]Karl Eller was president and CEO of the company, which merged withGannett in June 1979.[23][24] That October,Robert C. Maynard was then hired as theTribune's first African-American editor.[25]
A month later Gannett CEOAllen H. Neuharth launchedEast Bay Today, a morning edition of theTribune, an afternoon paper, and was sold at only retailers in Oakland.[26] The pilot project served as an early prototype of Gannett's later national paperUSA Today.[27] TheTribune was merged intoEast Bay Today in September 1982.[28] Around that time Gannett purchasedKRON-TV. The company then had due sell the Tribune as federal anti-trust laws made it illegal to own a television station and a newspaper in the same geographical market.[29]
In 1983, Gannet sold the paper to Maynard and his wifeNancy Hicks Maynard for $22 million. At that time the paper had a circulation of 174,000.[30] Maynard used the real estate assets of theTribune as collateral for a $17 million loan from Gannett used to fund the purchase. The deal was the first management-ledleveraged buyout of a newspaper in the United States.[31] At that time Maynard was the only Black owner of a metropolitan newspaper in the country.[31]
TheTribune faced financial difficulties and was close to shuttering. In 1991, theFreedom Forum, a nonprofit founded by Neuharth, agreed to provide the paper the means to wipe out its $31.5 million debt owed to Gannett, in addition to funds to help cover operating expenses. It was the first time in the nation a nonprofit organization bailed out a major for-profit publication.[32]
Circulation continued to decline and Maynard, then age 55, soon began a series of radiation treatments forprostate cancer. In 1992, the Maynards sold theTribune for $10 million toAlameda Newspaper Group, a subsidiary of theDenver-basedMediaNews Group. Around 380 employees were laid off.Tribune Tower, the paper's office, was not included in the sale.[33]
In 2006, ANG's name was changed to Bay Area News Group after the acquisition ofThe Mercury News andContra Costa Times fromMcClatchy Co.[34]
In 2007, theTribune permanently moved out of Tribune Tower to new offices on Oakport Street.[35]
In 2011, BANG announced a plan to merge theTribune with other sister East Bay newspapers, but on October 27, 2011, BANG announced that it would retainThe Oakland Tribune masthead.[36]
In 2012, theTribune moved its offices to 1970 Broadway in Oakland's Uptown district.[37]
On April 4, 2016, the last daily edition of theTribune was published as it was combined with other BANG-owned East Bay papers theContra Costa Times,Hayward Daily Review andFremont Argus, The Alameda Journal under the newEast Bay Times nameplate.[2][3]
TheOakland Tribune won thePulitzer Prize for a photograph of a small private plane narrowly missing aB-29 Superfortress in 1950, and again for photographs of the aftermath of the October 17, 1989,Loma Prieta earthquake.[38]
The majority of this article is from the History of the Oakland Tribune.
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