Chicago Examiner masthead from 1917
The Chicago Examiner, a William Randolph Hearst publication, began in 1902 as a morning edition to complement the evening edition paper, the Chicago American.
The advantage of Chicago as a center for newspaper publishing was demonstrated by Mr. Randolph Hearst’s efforts with the American, and two years after its installation he began a morning issue and named it the Examiner. This was sold at one cent per copy and rapidly gained an extensive circulation, the other morning papers being sold at two cents. The features which made the American popular were retained and the utilizing of time in sending out to outlying communities a journal that would reach each reader as early as the home product soon secured a valuable recognition, and possibly influenced the other morning papers to reduce the price at least to consumers.
The prominence which the Hearst papers gained may be attributed to the manner in which the happenings of the day were uniquely set forth as well as the vigorous manner in which ideas were heralded in the editorial columns, the publisher doubtless reaching the conclusion that either a considerable portion of the reading public were being overlooked or they were treated as incapable of displaying an interest in problems and questions affecting welfare. In brief, it may be stated that independent thought in journalism and policies associated with better conditions for the common people have been presented by trained writers in a manner that has found an &ager and increasing following anxious to receive the message and learn the lesson of democratic equality which these enterprises teach. Mr. Hearst is one of the extensive publishers in the United States, his chain of papers extending from coast to coast, and one might almost add, from gulf to gulf. All are successful and his organization is one of vigor and efficiency, hence his success is not to be wondered at by one who studies the causes that have brought these things about.
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