Columbus Telegram
Encyclopedia
The Columbus Telegram is a newspaper owned by Lee Enterprises
and published in Columbus, Nebraska
. It is delivered on Monday through Friday afternoon and on Sunday morning.
Its circulation is 8,270 daily and 9,222 on Sundays.
At that time, Columbus had two newspapers, the Journal and the Republican, both Republican
in policy. Hensley, a young lawyer, was working for Dr. George Miller
, publisher of the Omaha Herald and a leader in the Democratic Party
, who advised him to start a Democratic newspaper in Columbus.
The Era briefly ceased publication in November 1880; on April 9, 1881, it reappeared as the Columbus Democrat, managed by A. B. Coffroth and J. K. Coffroth.
In 1892, the name was changed to the Telegram.
In the early 1890s, D. Frank Davis attempted to publish the newspaper as a daily; however, Columbus was not large enough to support this, and the paper resumed weekly publication.
bought the Telegram from J. L. Paschal, who had been elected state senator.
A lawyer and newspaperman, Howard was a strong Democrat.
In 1883, he had purchased the Papillion Times in Papillion, Nebraska
; in 1887, he had left the Times to go to Benkelman
in southwestern Nebraska, where he founded the Dundy Democrat. In 1890, he had returned to Papillion and bought back the Times.
He had served a few months as William Jennings Bryan
's private secretary in 1891;
in 1894, he was elected to a term in the Nebraska House of Representatives
representing Sarpy County
;
in 1896, he had resigned this seat to become probate judge of Sarpy County.
In 1900, he made an unsuccessful bid for a seat in Congress
. In that same year, he sold the Times, moved to Columbus, and purchased the Telegram. He remained its editor for over fifty years.
In 1901, Howard incorporated the newspaper as the Telegram Company. In 1912, Zela H. Loomis, who had worked as a reporter and day editor for two Fremont, Nebraska
newspapers,
became managing editor and city editor of the Telegram; in the following year, he became vice-president of the company.
In 1922, the Telegram Company bought out the Columbus Daily News and ended publication of that title; the Telegram went from weekly to daily publication as the Columbus Daily Telegram. In that year, Howard was elected to the United States House of Representatives
. He sold most of his stock to his associates in the company; however, at their request he retained enough to allow him to remain president of the company and editor of the paper for the rest of his life.
Howard was re-elected to the House five times, serving from 1923 to 1935. In 1934, he lost the seat to Karl Stefan
.
After Howard's death in 1951, Loomis's name appeared at the top of the masthead
as editor.
Zela Loomis died in 1957,
whereupon his widow Svea Loomis became president and associate editor,
and their son Laird Loomis general manager.
In 1969, the Loomis family sold the newspaper to Freedom Newspapers, Inc.
Shortly after the transaction, the "Daily" was removed from the name, leaving it the Columbus Telegram.
In 1974, the newspaper made the conversion from letterpress
to offset
printing.
The Omaha World-Herald Company
bought the Telegram from Freedom Newspapers in September 1989.
At the same time, the World-Herald bought the Pawnee Scout shopper, which they merged with the Telegram.
In 1998, the World-Herald sold the Telegram to Independent Media Group, Inc. (IMG). At the time of the sale, the paper's circulation was reported as 11,500.
IMG was sold to Lee Enterprises and to Liberty Group Publishing
in 2000;
Lee acquired the Telegram,
whose circulation was again reported as 11,500; the circulation of the Scout Shopper was given as 13,000.
Tribune and the weekly David City
Banner Press and Schuyler
Sun. Vobejda was appointed to the position in 2009, before which he had been publisher of the Fremont newspaper.
The editor is Jim Dean.
The market area for the newspaper consists of 24,000 households in seven counties in east central Nebraska: Boone
, Butler
, Colfax
, Merrick
, Nance
, Platte
, and Polk
. A weekly supplement, the Telegram Advantage, is delivered to both subscribers and non-subscribers.
Lee Enterprises
Lee Enterprises is a publicly traded American media company. It publishes 54 daily newspapers in 23 states, and more than 300 weekly, classified, and specialty publications. Lee Enterprises was founded in 1890 by A.W. Lee and is based in Davenport, Iowa....
and published in Columbus, Nebraska
Columbus, Nebraska
Columbus is a city in east central Nebraska, United States. Its population was 22,111 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Platte County.-Pre-settlement history:...
. It is delivered on Monday through Friday afternoon and on Sunday morning.
Its circulation is 8,270 daily and 9,222 on Sundays.
19th century
In February 1874, W. N. Hensley founded the Columbus Era.At that time, Columbus had two newspapers, the Journal and the Republican, both Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in policy. Hensley, a young lawyer, was working for Dr. George Miller
George L. Miller
Dr. George Lorin Miller was a pioneer physician, editor, politician, civic leader and land owner in Omaha, Nebraska. The founder of the Omaha Herald, which later became part of the Omaha World-Herald, Miller arrived in Omaha in 1854, the year the city was founded...
, publisher of the Omaha Herald and a leader in the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, who advised him to start a Democratic newspaper in Columbus.
The Era briefly ceased publication in November 1880; on April 9, 1881, it reappeared as the Columbus Democrat, managed by A. B. Coffroth and J. K. Coffroth.
In 1892, the name was changed to the Telegram.
In the early 1890s, D. Frank Davis attempted to publish the newspaper as a daily; however, Columbus was not large enough to support this, and the paper resumed weekly publication.
Edgar Howard
In 1900, Edgar HowardEdgar Howard
Edgar Howard was a Nebraska editor and Democratic politician. He was the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska and served six terms in the United States House of Representatives....
bought the Telegram from J. L. Paschal, who had been elected state senator.
A lawyer and newspaperman, Howard was a strong Democrat.
In 1883, he had purchased the Papillion Times in Papillion, Nebraska
Papillion, Nebraska
Papillion is a city in Sarpy County in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is a suburb to the southwest of neighboring Omaha, and is the county seat of Sarpy County. The population of Papillion was 18,894 at the 2010 census. In 2009, Papillion was named the #3 best place to live in the United States by...
; in 1887, he had left the Times to go to Benkelman
Benkelman, Nebraska
Benkelman, a city, is the county seat of Dundy County , Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,006 at the 2000 census. As of the 2010 census it has a population of 839-Geography:Benkelman is located at ....
in southwestern Nebraska, where he founded the Dundy Democrat. In 1890, he had returned to Papillion and bought back the Times.
He had served a few months as William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...
's private secretary in 1891;
in 1894, he was elected to a term in the Nebraska House of Representatives
Nebraska Legislature
The Nebraska Legislature is the supreme legislative body of the State of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County....
representing Sarpy County
Sarpy County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 122,595 people, 43,426 households, and 33,220 families residing in the county. The population density was 510 people per square mile . There were 44,981 housing units at an average density of 187 per square mile...
;
in 1896, he had resigned this seat to become probate judge of Sarpy County.
In 1900, he made an unsuccessful bid for a seat in Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. In that same year, he sold the Times, moved to Columbus, and purchased the Telegram. He remained its editor for over fifty years.
In 1901, Howard incorporated the newspaper as the Telegram Company. In 1912, Zela H. Loomis, who had worked as a reporter and day editor for two Fremont, Nebraska
Fremont, Nebraska
Fremont is a city in and the county seat of Dodge County, Nebraska, United States, near Omaha in the eastern part of the state. The population was 26,397 at the 2010 census....
newspapers,
became managing editor and city editor of the Telegram; in the following year, he became vice-president of the company.
In 1922, the Telegram Company bought out the Columbus Daily News and ended publication of that title; the Telegram went from weekly to daily publication as the Columbus Daily Telegram. In that year, Howard was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He sold most of his stock to his associates in the company; however, at their request he retained enough to allow him to remain president of the company and editor of the paper for the rest of his life.
Howard was re-elected to the House five times, serving from 1923 to 1935. In 1934, he lost the seat to Karl Stefan
Karl Stefan
Karl Stefan was a US State of Nebraska Republican politician.He was born on a farm in Zebrakov, Bohemia on March 1, 1884. In 1885 he moved with his parents to Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A.. He was taught in the public schools and later a Y.M.C.A. night school...
.
After Howard
In 1940, Zela Loomis acquired a controlling interest in the Telegram Company and became editor-publisher of the newspaper.After Howard's death in 1951, Loomis's name appeared at the top of the masthead
Masthead (publishing)
The masthead is a list, published in a newspaper or magazine, of its staff. In some publications it names only the most senior individuals; in others, it may name many or all...
as editor.
Zela Loomis died in 1957,
whereupon his widow Svea Loomis became president and associate editor,
and their son Laird Loomis general manager.
In 1969, the Loomis family sold the newspaper to Freedom Newspapers, Inc.
Freedom Communications
Freedom Communications, Inc. is a media conglomerate in the United States. It owns approximately 100 daily and weekly newspapers in the US, with a combined daily circulation of nearly one million subscribers, and also operates over seventy local news websites...
Shortly after the transaction, the "Daily" was removed from the name, leaving it the Columbus Telegram.
In 1974, the newspaper made the conversion from letterpress
Letterpress printing
Letterpress printing is relief printing of text and image using a press with a "type-high bed" printing press and movable type, in which a reversed, raised surface is inked and then pressed into a sheet of paper to obtain a positive right-reading image...
to offset
Offset printing
Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface...
printing.
The Omaha World-Herald Company
Omaha World-Herald
The Omaha World-Herald, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is the primary daily newspaper of Nebraska, as well as portions of southwest Iowa. For decades it circulated daily throughout Nebraska, and in parts of Kansas, South Dakota, Missouri, Colorado and Wyoming. In 2008, distribution was reduced to the...
bought the Telegram from Freedom Newspapers in September 1989.
At the same time, the World-Herald bought the Pawnee Scout shopper, which they merged with the Telegram.
In 1998, the World-Herald sold the Telegram to Independent Media Group, Inc. (IMG). At the time of the sale, the paper's circulation was reported as 11,500.
IMG was sold to Lee Enterprises and to Liberty Group Publishing
GateHouse Media
GateHouse Media Inc. is a U.S. newspaper publisher, headquartered in Perinton, New York, that publishes 97 dailies in 20 states and 198 paid weeklies, in addition to free papers, shoppers and specialty and niche publications.- History :Liberty Group Publishing was formed in 1998 when Kenneth L...
in 2000;
Lee acquired the Telegram,
whose circulation was again reported as 11,500; the circulation of the Scout Shopper was given as 13,000.
The Telegram today
The publisher of the Telegram is Bill Vobejda, who also publishes the daily FremontFremont, Nebraska
Fremont is a city in and the county seat of Dodge County, Nebraska, United States, near Omaha in the eastern part of the state. The population was 26,397 at the 2010 census....
Tribune and the weekly David City
David City, Nebraska
David City is a city in Butler County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,597 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Butler County.-Geography:David City is located at ....
Banner Press and Schuyler
Schuyler, Nebraska
Schuyler is a city in Colfax County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,371 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Colfax County. The city is named after former Vice President of the United States, Schuyler Colfax...
Sun. Vobejda was appointed to the position in 2009, before which he had been publisher of the Fremont newspaper.
The editor is Jim Dean.
The market area for the newspaper consists of 24,000 households in seven counties in east central Nebraska: Boone
Boone County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,259 people, 2,454 households, and 1,700 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile . There were 2,733 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
, Butler
Butler County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 8,767 people, 3,426 households, and 2,350 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile . There were 3,901 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile...
, Colfax
Colfax County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,441 people, 3,682 households, and 2,592 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 4,088 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
, Merrick
Merrick County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 8,204 people, 3,209 households, and 2,307 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile . There were 3,649 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
, Nance
Nance County, Nebraska
-History:The land that comprises Nance County was originally part of the Pawnee Reservation, created in 1857 when the Pawnee Indians signed a treaty with the United States ceding its lands in exchange for the reservation. After the state of Nebraska was admitted into the Union, the state government...
, Platte
Platte County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,662 people, 12,076 households, and 8,465 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 12,916 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
, and Polk
Polk County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,639 people, 2,259 households, and 1,570 families residing in the county. The population density was 5/km² . There were 2,717 housing units at an average density of 2/km²...
. A weekly supplement, the Telegram Advantage, is delivered to both subscribers and non-subscribers.