Changes

The first newspaper by this name in Minden was founded in 1895. The newspaper has evolved through many manifestations. In 1989, the Louisiana Press Association presented ''The Press-Herald'' with the annual "Freedom of Information Award" for its work the previous year in maintaining public access to city meetings and records.

The first newspaper by this name in Minden was founded in 1895. The newspaper has evolved through many manifestations. In 1989, the Louisiana Press Association presented ''The Press-Herald'' with the annual "Freedom of Information Award" for its work the previous year in maintaining public access to city meetings and records.

==The original ''Minden Herald''==​

''The original ''Minden Herald''==

The earliest use of the name ''Minden Herald'' dates to 1895, after publisher and editor William Jasper Blackburn (1820-1899), an [[Arkansas]] native, settled in Minden, then a part of Claiborne Parish, and established the newspaper. He was a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], a supporter of the Union during the [[American Civil War]] and opposed [[slavery]]. He was [[mayor]] of Minden for a single one-year term from May 1855 to May 1856. Blackburn published his ''Minden Herald'' for about six years. It was not the first newspaper in Minden. That distinction was held by the former ''Minden Iris'', which was established in 1848 at the same time as the founding of neighboring Bienville Parish.<ref name=agan>John Agan, "Minden Press-Herald story goes back more than 150 years", ''Minden Press-Herald'', 2007</ref>​

The earliest use of the name ''Minden Herald'' dates to 1895, after publisher and editor William Jasper Blackburn (1820-1899), an [[Arkansas]] native, settled in Minden, then a part of Claiborne Parish, and established the newspaper. He was a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], a supporter of the Union during the [[American Civil War]] and opposed [[slavery]]. He was [[mayor]] of Minden for a single one-year term from May 1855 to May 1856. Blackburn published his ''Minden Herald'' for about six years. It was not the first newspaper in Minden. That distinction was held by the former ''Minden Iris'', which was established in 1848 at the same time as the founding of neighboring Bienville Parish.<ref name=agan>John Agan, "Minden Press-Herald story goes back more than 150 years", ''Minden Press-Herald'', 2007</ref>​

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In December 1955, Webster Newspapers Corporation was formed under the direction of [[Tom Colten]], a [[Detroit]],  native, who moved to Minden from Bogalusa in Washington Parish, here he had been business manager of ''The Bogalusa Daily News.'' After Webster Newspapers purchased ''The Minden Press'' from Harper and ''The Minden Herald'' from Mrs. Spiva, it combined the newspapers under the ''Minden Press-Herald'' name. DePingre was named editor of both the ''Minden Press'' (Monday) and the ''Minden Herald'' (Thursday). Colten served as publisher of both papers beginning with the January 1956 issues. In 1962, he bought out his business partner in the business, Charles Nutter.<ref name=agan/>​

In December 1955, Webster Newspapers Corporation was formed under the direction of [[Tom Colten]], a [[Detroit]],  native, who moved to Minden from Bogalusa in Washington Parish, here he had been business manager of ''The Bogalusa Daily News.'' After Webster Newspapers purchased ''The Minden Press'' from Harper and ''The Minden Herald'' from Mrs. Spiva, it combined the newspapers under the ''Minden Press-Herald'' name. DePingre was named editor of both the ''Minden Press'' (Monday) and the ''Minden Herald'' (Thursday). Colten served as publisher of both papers beginning with the January 1956 issues. In 1962, he bought out his business partner in the business, Charles Nutter.<ref name=agan/>​

 

On January 17, 1969, publisher Richard Hill announced that ''The Press-Herald'' would convert three days later from hot metal to offset printing.<ref>"Press-Herald Goes Offset on Monday," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 17, 1969, p. 1.</ref><ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 20, 1969, p. 1.</ref>A few weeks later, Hill resigned as publisher and was succeeded by Tom Kelly, a native of Winn Parish. For the preceding seven years he had published ''The Ruston Daily Leader'' and was previously the managing editor of the ''Jennings Daily News'' in Jefferson Davis Parish in southwestern Louisiana.<ref>"Tom Kelly Named Publisher," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 6, 1969, p. 1.</ref> ​

On January 17, 1969, publisher Richard Hill announced that ''The Press-Herald'' would convert three days later from hot metal to offset printing.<ref>"Press-Herald Goes Offset on Monday," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 17, 1969, p. 1.</ref><ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 20, 1969, p. 1.</ref>A few weeks later, Hill resigned as publisher and was succeeded by Tom Kelly, a native of Winn Parish. For the preceding seven years he had published ''The Ruston Daily Leader'' and was previously the managing editor of the ''Jennings Daily News'' in Jefferson Davis Parish in southwestern Louisiana.<ref>"Tom Kelly Named Publisher," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 6, 1969, p. 1.</ref>  

 

In 1989, the Louisiana Press Association presented ''The Press-Herald'' with the annual Freedom of Information Award for the year 1988 in recognition of the editorial staff's achievement in preventing the City of Minden from closing its meetings or restricting records from public access. The late 1980s had been a time of intense investigations into activities of the mayor, [[Noel Byars|Noel "Gene" Byars]], who was recalled from office in January 1989. He was subsequently convicted in the 26th Judicial Court of felony theft.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 16, 1989, p. 1.</ref> In the summer of 1988, Byars had ordered municipal employees not to meet with the news media without first consulting him.<ref>Sonny Jeane, "Mayor orders city employees not to meet with news media," ''The Minden Press-Herald'', July 24, 1988, p. 1</ref>​

In 1989, the Louisiana Press Association presented ''The Press-Herald'' with the annual Freedom of Information Award for the year 1988 in recognition of the editorial staff's achievement in preventing the City of Minden from closing its meetings or restricting records from public access. The late 1980s had been a time of intense investigations into activities of the mayor, [[Noel Byars|Noel "Gene" Byars]], who was recalled from office in January 1989. He was subsequently convicted in the 26th Judicial Court of felony theft.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 16, 1989, p. 1.</ref> In the summer of 1988, Byars had ordered municipal employees not to meet with the news media without first consulting him.<ref>Sonny Jeane, "Mayor orders city employees not to meet with news media," ''The Minden Press-Herald'', July 24, 1988, p. 1</ref>​

 

==Specht Newspapers, Inc.==​

==Specht Newspapers, Inc.==​

In 1965, Colten sold the newspapers to Richard Hill. Colten became the executive director of the Minden [[Chamber of Commerce]] and was elected the next year as mayor, serving two consecutive four-year terms. While Colten had hoped to establish a daily newspaper, that goal was not achieved until July 18, 1966, when the current ''Minden Press-Herald'' made its debut. The ''Press-Herald'' was sold to Specht Newspapers, Inc. It publishes the newspaper at 203 Gleason Street in Minden, the site of a former grocery store, along with ''The Bossier Press-Tribune'' in [[Bossier City]].<ref name=agan/> Chipley Newspapers of [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]], [[Florida]], is a subsidiary of Specht Newspapers.<ref>[https://intranet.freedom.com/freedom_admin/images/pdf/Pensacola%20News%20Journal_Florida.pdf]</ref>​

In 1965, Colten sold the newspapers to Richard Hill. Colten became the executive director of the Minden [[Chamber of Commerce]] and was elected the next year as mayor, serving two consecutive four-year terms. While Colten had hoped to establish a daily newspaper, that goal was not achieved until July 18, 1966, when the current ''Minden Press-Herald'' made its debut. The ''Press-Herald'' was sold to Specht Newspapers, Inc. It publishes the newspaper at 203 Gleason Street in Minden, the site of a former grocery store, along with ''The Bossier Press-Tribune'' in [[Bossier City]].<ref name=agan/> Chipley Newspapers of [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]], [[Florida]], is a subsidiary of Specht Newspapers.<ref>[https://intranet.freedom.com/freedom_admin/images/pdf/Pensacola%20News%20Journal_Florida.pdf]</ref>​