In 1903, the first edition of The Edmonton Journal, Then known as The Evening Journal, was published on a handfed press and sold for five cents a copy. Founded by three Manitobans, the new venture boasted Edmonton's first telegraphic news service which relayed news from Winnipeg to Edmonton in record time. By 1906, TheEvening Journal was running both morning and evening editions and had moved into a new building at a downtown site. The company was purchased in 1912 by William Southam and Sons, and nine years later relocated to our present downtown location.
The Journal led an historic defence for freedom of the press and against government control and was awarded a special Pulitzer Award in 1938, which is displayed in the Interpretive Lobby of the downtown building. It was the first and only such award to be given outside the United States.
Edmonton was experiencing great expansion in the late 1940's, and as the populations rose, The Journal's circulation increased rapidly. by 1957, circulation had risen to more than 100,000, from less than 34,000 in 1941. The original downtown facility was doubled in size in the 1950's, and new presses arrived in 1967. In 1974, the building was expanded again to include the west annex.
Unable to meet the newspaper's production needs, a $37.5-million printing plant was built in 1980 in Edmonton's east end. It houses The Journal's printing presses and serves other prodution functions. A decade later, construction was completed on the final phase of The Journal's downtown building. The new $20-million building is five storeys high, althoughthe building's foundation is capable of supporting a 17-storey tower, should that be necessary in the future.
As you can see, The Edmonton Journal has made significant progress since its inception in 1903 to this present day. Circulation continues to increase, and has made this company successful. As the future brings more challenge, The Journal will continue its efforts to be a leader in the newspaper industry. |
