The Post and Courier
Encyclopedia
Charleston's The Post and Courier is one of the oldest daily newspaper
s in the South and the eighth oldest newspaper still in publication in the United States. It is published in Charleston, South Carolina
. It traces its ancestry to three newspapers, the Charleston Courier, founded in 1803, the Charleston Daily News, founded 1865, and The Evening Post, founded 1894. Along with The Greenville News
and Columbia's The State, it is one of the three largest papers in the Palmetto State.
The founder of the Courier, Aaron Smith Willington, came from Massachusetts
with newspaper experience. In the early 19th century, he was known to row out to meet ships from London
, Liverpool
, Havre
, and New York
to get the news earlier than other Charleston papers. He also had a translator working for him, so he could copy items from the Havana
newspapers.
Through the 1990s The Evening Post Publishing Company
, which now publishes The Post and Courier, acquired a number of other daily and weekly newspapers, and television stations.
.http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45&aid=137846 In 2008, Reporter Tony Bartelme
also won the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award for a story about the effect of China's growth on local economies.http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x20379.xml
At the start of 2009, The Post and Courier's circulation figures were down to 94,647 for dailies, and 97,549 for Sundays - 4.8% down on the previous years figures.
On February 6th 2009, 25 more layoffs were announced.
On March 23rd 2009, Evening Post Publishing Co. - the parent company of the paper - announced that a company-wide furlough plan would take place in the second quarter of 2009 - employees having to take five days of unpaid leave, in another attempt to save the company money. The newspaper said the move was necessary "because of the continued weakness of the economy and the impact on advertising."
On February 1st 2010, it was announced that Preview was re-named and re-launched as Charleston Scene, as of 11th March 2010.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s in the South and the eighth oldest newspaper still in publication in the United States. It is published in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. It traces its ancestry to three newspapers, the Charleston Courier, founded in 1803, the Charleston Daily News, founded 1865, and The Evening Post, founded 1894. Along with The Greenville News
The Greenville News
The Greenville News is a daily morning newspaper published in Greenville, South Carolina. Along with The State in Columbia and Charleston's Post and Courier, it is one of the three largest papers in South Carolina.-History:...
and Columbia's The State, it is one of the three largest papers in the Palmetto State.
History
The Charleston Courier, founded in 1803, and Charleston Daily News, founded in 1865, merged to form the News and Courier in 1873, then merged with The Evening Post — founded in 1894 — in 1991, forming The Post and Courier.The founder of the Courier, Aaron Smith Willington, came from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
with newspaper experience. In the early 19th century, he was known to row out to meet ships from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to get the news earlier than other Charleston papers. He also had a translator working for him, so he could copy items from the Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
newspapers.
Through the 1990s The Evening Post Publishing Company
Evening Post Publishing Company
The Evening Post Publishing Company is a privately held media company, based inCharleston, South Carolina, United States.In addition to The Post and Courier of Charleston, the South's oldest daily newspaper, the company owns six other newspapers in South Carolina, including the Aiken Standard...
, which now publishes The Post and Courier, acquired a number of other daily and weekly newspapers, and television stations.
Awards
In 2008, the newspaper won national awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and American Society of Newspaper Editors for coverage of the Charleston Sofa Super Store fireCharleston Sofa Super Store fire
The Charleston Sofa Super Store fire occurred on June 18, 2007, in Charleston, South Carolina, United States, in which a flashover and structural collapse contributed to the deaths of nine Charleston firefighters.-Fire and collapse:...
.http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45&aid=137846 In 2008, Reporter Tony Bartelme
Tony Bartelme
Tony Bartelme, an American journalist, is the senior projects reporter for The Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina.-Awards:In 2011, Bartelme was a finalist for his about a neurosurgeon's work to teach brain surgery in Tanzania. In 2010, Bartelme was awarded a Nieman Fellowship at...
also won the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award for a story about the effect of China's growth on local economies.http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x20379.xml
Circulation Figures
The reported numbers for The Post and Courier's circulation as of the six months ended September 30, 2009, were 86,084 daily and 94,940 on Sundays. This is down some 13% from the period ended March 31, 2008; which were 99,459 daily and 110,289 on Sunday.At the start of 2009, The Post and Courier's circulation figures were down to 94,647 for dailies, and 97,549 for Sundays - 4.8% down on the previous years figures.
Layoffs
Due to a decline in revenue, the paper offered a buyout to employees in 2008 in which 64 full-time employees left in an . This attempt to streamline the company and save money brought the headcount down to 381 by the start of 2009.On February 6th 2009, 25 more layoffs were announced.
On March 23rd 2009, Evening Post Publishing Co. - the parent company of the paper - announced that a company-wide furlough plan would take place in the second quarter of 2009 - employees having to take five days of unpaid leave, in another attempt to save the company money. The newspaper said the move was necessary "because of the continued weakness of the economy and the impact on advertising."
Charleston Scene
One addition to the paper is the weekly Charleston Scene guide - published on a Thursday, containing entertainment, music and food reviews for the local area.On February 1st 2010, it was announced that Preview was re-named and re-launched as Charleston Scene, as of 11th March 2010.