| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner | Gannett |
| Publisher | Rick Emanuel |
| Editor | Shawn Vargo |
| Founded | May 16, 1847 (1847-05-16), asThe Corning Journal[1] |
| Headquarters | 34 West Pulteney Street, Corning,New York 14830,United States |
| Circulation | 3,626 (as of 2018)[2] |
| ISSN | 1050-1983 |
| Website | the-leader.com |
The Leader is an Americandaily newspaper published inCorning, New York. It is owned byGannett.
The newspaper covers the city of Corning and surrounding villages such asAddison,Bath andErwin, inSteuben County, andHorseheads, inChemung County.
The history ofThe Leader stretches back to two competing newspapers in Corning in the mid-19th century. Its earliest predecessor wasThe Corning Journal, aweekly newspaper established in 1847 as "an independent family newspaper, free from party politics". George W. Pratt served as editor of theJournal for a half-century, from 1851 until his death in 1906. His son, future CongressmanHarry H. Pratt, ran the paper until 1918.[1]
The weeklyCorning Sun debuted in 1853, later changing its name to theSouthern Tier Farmer and then, in April 1857, theCorning Democrat, to reflect its ties to theDemocratic Party. TheDemocrat established a daily newspaper in 1884, and in 1903 changed its name toThe Evening Leader. Another future congressman,Edwin Underhill, served as publisher ofThe Evening Leader and oversaw its repudiation of 19th century-style partisan journalism.[1]
The Corning Journal merged withThe Evening Leader in 1920. Ownership of the combined afternoon paper remained in the Underhill family until 1972, when it was sold toHoward Publications ofCalifornia.[1][3] The paper published asThe Evening Leader until 1954, then as theCorning Leader until September 24, 1965, and asThe Leader thereafter.[4]
Publication was interrupted during late June 1972 during theHurricane Agnes flood, which caused millions of dollars of damage to theLeader building.[1] On June 24, 1972, theLeader banded with its competitors to publish a special flood edition called theLeader-Star-Gazette.[4]
GateHouse Media, which ownsThe Leader, also owns two other daily newspapers in theSouthern Tier,The Evening Tribune ofHornell, and theWellsville Daily Reporter. The company owns theSteuben Courier ofBath and two other nearby weeklies,The Chronicle-Express ofPenn Yan and theGenesee Country Express ofDansville.