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>​

In May 1936, ''The Herald'' was voted the best newspaper in Louisiana by a panel that included the journalist and State Representative [[Rupert Peyton]] of Shreveport. At the time ''The Herald'' carried no "boiler-plate" news but only original local reporting. It was cited for layout, news, and editorials.<ref>"Herald voted best in Louisiana," ''Minden Herald,'' May 8, 1936, p. 1.</ref>​

In May 1936, ''The Herald'' was voted the best newspaper in Louisiana by a panel that included the journalist and State Representative [[Rupert Peyton]] of Shreveport. At the time ''The Herald'' carried no "boiler-plate" news but only original local reporting. It was cited for layout, news, and editorials.<ref>"Herald voted best in Louisiana," ''Minden Herald,'' May 8, 1936, p. 1.</ref>​

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==Spivas’ Webster Printing Company==​

==The Spivas' Webster Printing Company==

Under Clifton Harper’s leadership, the weekly ''The Minden Herald'' was published on Friday. His editorials called for economic growth and modernization. Harper Brothers and Lowe acquired ownership of the other local paper, the ''Signal-Tribune,''published on Tuesday.  In February 1932, the ''Minden Herald'' purchased the ''Webster News'' and changed its name to the ''Minden Herald'' and ''Webster News,'' published as a single newspaper. This arrangement continued until April 1937, when the Harper Brothers left the local newspaper market. The papers were sold to the Webster Printing Company, owned by Hubert Spiva (1899-1939) and his wife, the former Lilla Ellenor Stewart (1906-1959). Hubert Spiva was a veteran newspaperman and his wife, Lilla, daughter of the attorney Daniel W. Stewart, Sr. of Minden and a niece of [[William G. Stewart]], namesake of the defunct William G. Stewart Elementary School in Minden, had experience in journalism. The new company ceased publication of ''The Signal-Tribune'' and issued ''The Webster News'' as a separate paper on Tuesday.<ref name=agan/>​

Under Clifton Harper’s leadership, the weekly ''The Minden Herald'' was published on Friday. His editorials called for economic growth and modernization. Harper Brothers and Lowe acquired ownership of the other local paper, the ''Signal-Tribune,''published on Tuesday.  In February 1932, the ''Minden Herald'' purchased the ''Webster News'' and changed its name to the ''Minden Herald'' and ''Webster News,'' published as a single newspaper. This arrangement continued until April 1937, when the Harper Brothers left the local newspaper market. The papers were sold to the Webster Printing Company, owned by Hubert Tamblyn Spiva, Sr. (1899-1939) and his wife, the former Lilla Ellenor Stewart (1906-1959). Hubert Spiva was a veteran newspaperman and his wife, Lilla, daughter of the attorney Daniel W. Stewart, Sr. of Minden and a niece of [[William G. Stewart]], namesake of the defunct William G. Stewart Elementary School in Minden, had experience in journalism. The new company ceased publication of ''The Signal-Tribune'' and issued ''The Webster News'' as a separate paper on Tuesday.<ref name=agan/>​

 

After Hubert Spiva's death, Webster Printing and Lilla Spiva had sole control of the Minden newspaper market through the 1940s. In 1949, she was the only woman representative from Louisiana at the annual meeting of the National Editorial Association in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]].<ref>"Minden Publisher Attends National Press Convention," ''The Minden Herald and Webster News,'' November 11, 1949, p. 1.</ref>​

After Hubert Spiva's death, Webster Printing and Lilla Spiva had sole control of the Minden newspaper market through the 1940s. In 1949, she was the only woman representative from Louisiana at the annual meeting of the National Editorial Association in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]].<ref>"Minden Publisher Attends National Press Convention," ''The Minden Herald and Webster News,'' November 11, 1949, p. 1.</ref>​

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The Spivas had a son, Hubert Tamblyn "Tam" Spiva, Jr. (1932-2017), a script writer, with work on such [[television]] programs as ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' and ''Gentle Ben.''​

The Spivas had a son, Hubert "Tam" Spiva, Jr. (1932-2017), a script writer, with work on such [[television]] programs as ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' and ''Gentle Ben.''​

 

In 1949, Clifton Harper returned to the local newspaper scene with his new ''Minden Press.''  He engaged in an aggressive arketing campaign and moved his publication to Thursday to have a day’s advantage on the ''Minden Herald.'' For a time, Minden was again served by three local papers: the ''Minden News'' on Monday, the ''Minden Press'' on Thursday, and the ''Minden Herald'' on Friday.<ref name=agan/>​

In 1949, Clifton Harper returned to the local newspaper scene with his new ''Minden Press.''  He engaged in an aggressive arketing campaign and moved his publication to Thursday to have a day’s advantage on the ''Minden Herald.'' For a time, Minden was again served by three local papers: the ''Minden News'' on Monday, the ''Minden Press'' on Thursday, and the ''Minden Herald'' on Friday.<ref name=agan/>​

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