Changes

The daily newspaper has a circulation of some 19,500 daily and 27,500 on Sundays. It covers the news primarily in seven parishes with a population of approximately 400,000. The coverage area reaches from the [[Mississippi River]] on the east to the [[Texas]] border on the west.

The daily newspaper has a circulation of some 19,500 daily and 27,500 on Sundays. It covers the news primarily in seven parishes with a population of approximately 400,000. The coverage area reaches from the [[Mississippi River]] on the east to the [[Texas]] border on the west.

''The Town Talk'' was born on [[St. Patrick’s Day]], March 17, 1883.<ref name=gan>{{cite web|title=The Town Talk|url=http://www.gannett.com/about/map/ataglance/alexandria.htm|accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref> It was owned by the original [[Irish-American]] founders, including Edgar Hammond McCormick and Henarie Morrison Huie, and their heirs until 1996, when it was sold to Central Newspapers of [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], then the 15th-largest newspaper company in the [[United States]]. The parent company was called “McCormick & Company, Inc.” Central Newspapers was purchased in 2000 by Gannett of McLean, [[Virginia]],<ref>[http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/star/history/2000/star_sold.html Star sold to Gannett<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> was owned until his death by Eugene S. Pulliam, the maternal uncle of former [[Vice President of the United States]] [[Dan Quayle|J. Danforth Quayle]].

''The Town Talk'' was born on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1883.<ref name=gan>{{cite web|title=The Town Talk|url=http://www.gannett.com/about/map/ataglance/alexandria.htm|accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref> It was owned by the original [[Irish-American]] founders, including Edgar Hammond McCormick and Henarie Morrison Huie, and their heirs until 1996, when it was sold to Central Newspapers of [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], then the 15th-largest newspaper company in the [[United States]]. The parent company was called “McCormick & Company, Inc.” Central Newspapers was purchased in 2000 by Gannett of McLean, [[Virginia]],<ref>[http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/star/history/2000/star_sold.html Star sold to Gannett<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> was owned until his death by Eugene S. Pulliam, the maternal uncle of former [[Vice President of the United States]] [[Dan Quayle|J. Danforth Quayle]].

In 1962, [[Joe D. Smith, Jr.]],  became [[publisher]] of ''The Town Talk.'' He was the husband of Jane Wilson Smith (1922–1992), a McCormick heir whose family owned the newspaper. Over the years, Smith was also the general manager, president, and chairman of the board. Under his tutelage, ''The Town Talk'' became the first daily newspaper in Louisiana to become [[computer]]ized. He took the view that newspapers were expected to foster growth and improvement in the community as well as report the news.<ref>http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080323/OPINION/803220327</ref> Some four years after the death of Jane Smith, Smith sold to Central Newspapers for $62 million.

In 1962, [[Joe D. Smith, Jr.]],  became [[publisher]] of ''The Town Talk.'' He was the husband of Jane Wilson Smith (1922–1992), a McCormick heir whose family owned the newspaper. Over the years, Smith was also the general manager, president, and chairman of the board. Under his tutelage, ''The Town Talk'' became the first daily newspaper in Louisiana to become [[computer]]ized. He took the view that newspapers were expected to foster growth and improvement in the community as well as report the news.<ref>http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080323/OPINION/803220327</ref> Some four years after the death of Jane Smith, Smith sold to Central Newspapers for $62 million.