The Flint Journal is a quad-weekly newspaper based in Flint, Michigan, owned by Booth Newspapers, a subsidiary of Advance Publications. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, it serves Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee Counties. As of February 2, 2012, it is headquartered in Downtown Flint at 540 S Saginaw St, Suite 504.Flint Journal opens new downtown offices, Harrison Street building remains open for customer service (with video) The Flint Journal via MLive.com, February 2, 2012 The paper and its sister publications The Saginaw News and The Bay City Times are printed at the Booth-owned Valley Publishing Co. printing plant in Monitor Township.The Bay City Times: A look back at Bay City Times history", 3/24/2009.
History The Flint Journal was founded in 1876 during Flint's booming lumber years by Charles Fellows and Washington Irving Beardsley as a weekly newspaper. The Journal's main competitors at the time were the Wolverine Citizen, The Genesee Democrat and The Flint Globe. The paper was sold in rapid succession to Doctor Carman, who sold ownership in December 1882 to George McConnolly and others until the Journal was purchased by the Flint Globe's owner, Howard H. Fitzgerald,"Changes in Flint and Pontiac." The Fourth Estate, January 2, 1915, p. 7. and merged as the Weekly Globe and Daily Journal. The Booth Publishing Company, owned by Ralph H. Booth of Detroit, along with his brothers George and Edmund,"Flint Journal Sold." Lansing (MI) State Journal, June 15, 1911, p. 10 purchased ownership of the Weekly Globe and Daily Journal in 1911. In 1919, the Journal had a paid circulation of 25,947, giving it the 4th largest paid circulation of any evening newspaper in the state."14 Evening Papers Cover Michigan." Editor and Publisher, March 8, 1919, p. 37. By the early 1920s, the Journal had not only consolidated with the Globe but also the Flint Daily News."Editorial Page." Flint Daily Journal, July 7, 1922, p. 6. In July 1922, the Journal entered the field of radio broadcasting, becoming partners with local broadcaster Frank D. Fallain to put Flint's first station, WEAA, on the air."WEAA, Flint's First Radio Broadcasting Station, Gives Its Initial Program Saturday." Flint Daily Journal, July 7, 1922, p. 1. The newspaper was known as the Flint Daily Journal until 1935, when its name was shortened to the Flint Journal."About the Flint Daily Journal." Library of Congress
Along with the rest of the Booth properties, the Journal was sold to newspaper publisher S.I. (Sy) Newhouse's Advance Publications in November 1976 for an estimated $305 million."Newhouse Buys Booth Papers." Baltimore Sun, November 9, 1976, p. 17. On January 27, 2013, its old headquarters at 200 E First St was leased to the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.Former home of Flint Journal to be leased by MSU The Detroit Free Press, January 27, 2013
Since the newspaper's conception, it has been eminently acknowledged for its coverage of local news. Major events that occurred in Flint, like the 1936 Sit-Down Strike, were reported with an up-and-close perspective.
Reduced publication dates On June 1, 2009, the Journal and its sister papers, The Saginaw News and The Bay City Times, reduced publishing to three times a week—Thursday, Friday and Sunday, while increasing their interactive media capabilities.Bay City Times: "The Bay City Times announces big changes", 3/23/2009. The changes came after the three papers laid off 35% of their staff in March 2009.Flint Journal: "Flint Journal to publish 3 days a week", 3/23/2009. Also at that point, all three newspapers increased their online presence, in partnership with MLive.com.
The Flint Journal added a Tuesday print edition starting on March 23, 2010, bringing the number of publishing days a week to four.Flint Journal: "Flint Journal to return to Newsstands on Tuesdays starting March 23", 3/7/2010. Unlike the other three daily editions, Tuesdays were originally "news stand only;""Flint Paper Restarts Tuesday Edition." Lansing (MI) State Journal, March 10, 2010, p. 4. however, since June 7, 2011, the Tuesday edition has also been delivered to subscribers.Flint Journal subscription information If Metro Detroit is not counted, Flint is the fifth-largest city in the United States, and second largest in Michigan, without a daily newspaper. In 2012, the Journal donated its archives, consisting of more than 100,000 Flint Journal newspaper clippings, books, microfilm, microfiche and photographs, to Flint's Sloan Museum.Blake Thorne. "MLive-Flint Journal donates archives to Sloan museum, historic records available for public view." MLive.com, November 20, 2012.
In 2014, the MLive Media Group newspapers including the Flint Journal introduced digital editions via apps for tablets and smartphones on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday to complement the four print editions, which are also available in digital editions.
Circulation
In March 2012, the Journal had an average Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday circulation of 49,685, and a Sunday circulation of 66,622. At the end of 2017, the Flint Journal had a paid circulation of 33,215 for the weekly editions, and 45,051 for the Sunday edition.American Newspaper Representatives
See also Barry Edmonds William M. Gallagher
References
External links Official website