James Edmund Scripps published the first issue of the The Evening News, predecessor of the Detroit News. Scripps had a revolutionary idea in newspaper publishing. Instead of depending on support from a political party, he sought to boost circulation by selling ads to make money. The News distinguished itself from its competitors, such as the Detroit Free Press, by charging less per issue and by focusing on sensational news. The paper cost 2 cents, while most other papers cost 5 cents. The paper proved so successful that it ultimately absorbed competitors like the Detroit Tribune in 1919, the Detroit Journal in 1922 and the Detroit Times in 1960.
Sources :
Michigan Historical Calendar, courtesy of the Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University.
Detroit Historical Society Facebook Page
Michigan Every Day
For another article, see Holly Fournier, “Detroit News celebrates a birthday; Paper marks 139 years of local, state and national coverage”, Detroit News, August 23, 2012.