- Watauga Democrat
Infobox_Newspaper
name = Watauga Democrat
type = Three times a weeknewspaper
format =Broadsheet
foundation =1888
owners = Jones Media
publisher = Mountain Times Publications
editor = Jason Reagan
price = USD 0.50
headquarters =Boone, North Carolina
website = [http://www.wataugademocrat.com/ www.wataugademocrat.com]The Watauga Democrat is a
newspaper published inBoone, North Carolina . It is printed three days a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In 2002, its average paid circulation was 20,832.The "Watauga Democrat" began as a political newspaper but quickly evolved into a highly respected non-partisan publication that chronicles local news in Watauga County.
Beginnings
In July
1888 , Joseph Spainhour began printing a weekly newspaper he named the "Watauga Democrat". The newspaper's stated mission was to be "the voice of the Watauga Democrat Party."One year later, the "Democrat" was purchased by D.B. and D.D. Dougherty and R.C. Rivers. Rivers subsequently bought out the Doughertys and became sole owner of the newspaper.
Early issues of the "Democrat" were printed on a hand-operated press capable of printing only one page at a time. Each edition had a maximum of four pages. A one-year subscription in 1888 was $1, and a one-inch classified ad could be bought for 75 cents.
Early Competitors
The "Watauga Enterprise", a rival Republican-leaning newspaper, was launched in 1888 by Watauga County Judge L.L. Greene and Thomas Bingham. The "Enterprise" was primarily an instrument to support
Benjamin Harrison in the 1888 presidential campaign. The "Enterprise" ceased publication shortly after Harrison's victory.The first newspaper in Watauga County was the "Watauga Journal". The first issue of the "Watauga Journal" was printed on
November 17 ,1887 . The "Journal" folded when its founder, a Mr. Mclaughlin, became chief of police inJohnson City, Tennessee .Ownership
In 1933 Rivers handed the role of publisher to his son, Robert Campbell Rivers. The younger Rivers continued to operate the "Democrat" until his death in 1975.
Rachel Rivers-Coffey took over as publisher of the "Democrat" following her father's death in 1975. She served as publisher for almost two decades, until the "Democrat" was bought by Eugene and Anne Worrell, who at that time also owned the "
Bristol Herald Courier " in nearbyBristol, Virginia and "The Daily Progress " inCharlottesville, Virginia .In 1997 the Worrells sold the "Watauga Democrat" to Arthur and Fran Powers. The Powers operated the "Democrat" until 2002, when it was acquired by Jones Media, owner of the rival free weekly "
Mountain Times ".References
* [http://www.wataugademocrat.com/ Watauga Democrat on the Web]
* [http://parklibrary.jomc.unc.edu/NCPAPERSCIRC2002.html The Park Library's list of North Carolina newspapers, by circulation]
* [http://www.wataugademocrat.com/2005/placecalledhome/apch_18_bw.pdf "A History of Local Media" in the Watauga Democrat's 2005 supplement, "A Place Called Home".]
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