Charleston Gazette-Mail: A History of West Virginia Journalism
The landscape of news in West Virginia has been shaped by the long and often contentious relationship between two primary publications: the Charleston Gazette and the Charleston Daily Mail. From their 19th-century origins to their eventual merger and bankruptcy, these papers reflected the political and social tensions of their era.
The Charleston Gazette: A Liberal Legacy
The roots of the Gazette date back to 1873, when it began as a weekly publication called the Kanawha Chronicle. Over the following decades, it underwent several name changes—becoming the Kanawha Gazette and the Daily Gazette—before officially adopting the name The Charleston Gazette in 1907.
In 1912, the Chilton family took control of the paper, maintaining ownership until 2018. The publication was led by U.S. Senator William E. Chilton, followed by his son, William E. Chilton II, and grandson, W. E. "Ned" Chilton III. Ned Chilton, a Yale graduate and protégé of conservative columnist William F. Buckley, Jr., steered the paper toward a liberal reputation. Interestingly, the Gazette's opinion page continued to carry Buckley's column until his death.
The paper's editorial voice was further defined by L. T. Anderson, a principal editorial writer and two-time Pulitzer Prize runner-up. After being passed over for an editorial position, Anderson moved to the rival Daily Mail, where he frequently used his column to criticize his former employer.
The Charleston Daily Mail: The Independent Alternative
Founded in 1914 by former Alaska Governor Walter Eli Clark, the Charleston Daily Mail was established as an "independent Republican" publication. The Clark family owned the paper until 1987, when it was sold to the Toronto-based Thomson Newspapers, which moderated the publication's political stance. In 1998, the paper was sold again, this time to the Denver-based MediaNews Group.
The Daily Mail achieved a historic milestone in 1975 when editorial writer Jack Maurice won the Pulitzer Prize for a series of editorials regarding a textbook battle in Kanawha County. This marked the first Pulitzer Prize ever won by a West Virginia newspaper.
Publication Schedule Evolution
The Daily Mail's printing schedule shifted several times over the decades:
- Until 1961: Monday–Saturday afternoons, with a Sunday morning edition.
- 1961–2005: Monday–Saturday afternoons.
- 2005–2009: Monday–Friday afternoons.
- 2009–2015: Monday–Friday mornings.
The Era of Combined Operations
In 1961, the two rivals entered into a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA), a business arrangement where competing newspapers merge production and distribution while keeping their editorial voices separate. This led to the creation of a combined Sunday Gazette-Mail from 1961 to 1991 (produced by both staffs) and from 1991 to 2015 (produced solely by the Gazette staff).
A similar combined Saturday edition existed from 2005 to 2015. While produced by the Gazette staff, it maintained two separate editorial pages to preserve the distinct viewpoints of each paper.
Merger, Legal Battles, and Bankruptcy
The Gazette purchased the Daily Mail in 2004, but the transition was fraught with legal issues. In 2007, the U.S. Department of Justice sued, alleging uncompetitive operations. A settlement resulted in a federal injunction that prevented the Gazette from shutting down the Daily Mail until July 20, 2015.
On July 20, 2015, the papers were merged without prior notice into the Charleston Gazette-Mail. Staff members were told to reapply for their jobs, and the new publication featured two editorial pages to represent the conservative views of the Daily Mail and the liberal views of the Gazette.
Legal and Financial Turmoil
The merger triggered a series of financial and legal crises:
- Pension Issues: In July 2015, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation filed a $1.3 million lien for unpaid pension deposits.
- MediaNews Group Lawsuit: In October 2015, MediaNews Group sued in the Delaware Court of Chancery. They alleged the unauthorized sale of the domain dailymail.com, trademark infringement, unpaid production fees exceeding $450,000, and a lack of proper board approval for the merger.
Arbitration and subsequent court rulings found the Gazette liable on all counts, resulting in a judgment of nearly $4,000,000.
The Transition to HD Media
By 2018, the company faced severe instability. After settling with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Trust and issuing WARN Act notices to nearly all remaining employees, the company filed for bankruptcy. Following a bidding process involving Ogden Newspapers, the bankruptcy judge approved the sale of the Gazette-Mail to HD Media on March 9, 2018, for a final price of $11,487,243.
In recent years, the publication has continued to adapt to the digital age. In October 2017, the Monday print edition was replaced by a virtual edition. More recently, on July 16, 2023, the paper announced the end of its Sunday print edition, moving to a combined weekend edition delivered on Saturdays.
Key Facts
- Founded: The Gazette's roots date back to 1873; the Daily Mail was founded in 1914.
- First Pulitzer: Won by the Daily Mail's Jack Maurice in 1975.
- The Merger: The two papers officially became the Charleston Gazette-Mail on July 20, 2015.
- Final Sale Price: HD Media purchased the paper for $11,487,243 in 2018.
- Current Format: The Sunday print edition was eliminated in 2023 in favor of a combined weekend edition.
| Feature | Charleston Gazette | Charleston Daily Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Origin Year | 1873 (as Kanawha Chronicle) | 1914 |
| Political Lean | Liberal | Independent Republican |
| Key Ownership | Chilton Family | Walter Eli Clark / MediaNews Group |
| Major Achievement | Long-standing liberal influence | First WV Pulitzer Prize (1975) |
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Charleston Gazette and Daily Mail merge?
The two newspapers officially merged on July 20, 2015, to become the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
Who currently owns the Charleston Gazette-Mail?
The newspaper is owned by HD Media, which acquired it out of bankruptcy in March 2018.
What was the Joint Operating Agreement?
Starting in 1961, the JOA allowed the two papers to share production and distribution costs while maintaining separate and competing editorial staffs.
Why did MediaNews Group sue the Gazette?
MediaNews Group alleged that the Gazette sold the dailymail.com domain without permission, failed to pay production fees, and merged the papers without a proper board meeting.
Does the paper still print a Sunday edition?
No. As of August 5, 2023, the Sunday print edition was eliminated and replaced by a combined weekend edition delivered on Saturdays.