Type Daily newspaper Owner(s) Morris Communications Editor Frank Denton | Format Broadsheet Publisher Mark Nusbaum | |
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Founder(s) J.K. Stickney
W.C. Morrill
Charles H. Jones | ||
The Florida Times-Union is a major daily newspaper in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Widely known as the oldest newspaper in the state, it began publication as the Florida Union in 1864. Its current incarnation started in 1883, when the Florida Union merged with another Jacksonville paper, the Florida Daily Times. A Southeast Georgia edition, called The Georgia Times-Union, serves the Brunswick area. In 1983, Morris Communications of Augusta, Georgia, purchased Florida Publishing Company. The Times-Union became the largest newspaper of this chain, which owns a number of newspapers around the country. As of 2013, its editor is Frank Denton and the editorial page editor is Michael P. Clark.
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History
In 1864 during the American Civil War J.K Stickney and W.C. Morrill published the first edition of the Florida Union. It was a Northern and Republican paper which at the time was when Jacksonville was occupied by the Union Army. By 1867 Stickney sold the Florida Union to Edward M. Cheney of Boston. Cheney unsuccessfully tried to make the paper into a daily publication but was financially unable to do so. The Florida Union was later sold to Walton, Fowle & Co. in 1873. Stockholder C. F. Mawbey assumed control and was able to turn the Florida Union into a daily publication. Cheney returned to the Florida Union as an editor. In 1876 the Florida Union was in decline and abandoned daily publications. Financially doomed it was sold to H. B. McCallum who then returned it to daily publications as well as converting it from an afternoon to a morning paper. Charles H. Jones wanted to buy the Florida Union but was refused by McCallum. Jones became annoyed at McCallum so he decided to start a rival paper called the Florida Daily Times in November 1881. By 1883 the Florida Daily Times was dominating the Florida Union. McCallum became ill and finally decided to sell the paper to the Florida Daily Times. The acquisition of the Florida Union then combined with the Florida Daily Times to form the Florida Times-Union. The first publication under the name of Florida Times-Union was February 4, 1883.
Ownership
The Florida Times-Union was previously owned by Florida Publishing Company which was a subsidiary of Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. In 1983 Morris Communications of Augusta, Georgia acquired the Florida Publishing Company. Since 1983 the Florida Times-Union has been owned by Morris Communications.