The Washington Post

The Washington Post is an American famous daily newspaper whose seat is with Washington. Its leading line was rather of center-left before the death of its owner Kathrine Graham. Since, under the direction of his son, Donald Graham, the newspaper approaches the right-hand side.

Research of the truth, independence: the publication of the secret reports/ratios of the Pentagon on the War of Vietnam or the revelations on the Scandale of Watergate showed that the Washington Post lived according to certain principles.

The Post left anonymity in the years 1930 thanks to the leading line - always followed - and the aggressive marketing policy installations by its director Eugene Meyer, future chair the World Bank. First daily newspaper to appear seven days out of seven (in 1880), and to charge a mediator with taking care on the independence of the newspaper (since 1970), the Post always knew to evolve/move to become one of the world newspapers most influential. Since 1999, the color made its appearance.

History

The Washington Post is founded in 1877 by Stilson Hutchins, journalist favorable to the American Democratic party. The first numbers include/understand four pages and cost three hundreds. In 1889, Hutchins sells the daily newspaper in Frank Hatton and Beriah Wilkins, which create the Washington Post Company, today owner of Newsweek , television channels, cable networks and, until 2003, of half of the capital of the International Herald Tribune , published with Paris. John R. McLean, owner of the Cincinnati Enquirer , repurchases the publication in 1905: he decorates it cartoons colors and an orientation “sensationnalist gives him”, stressing the various facts and the scandals. His/her son, Edward McLean, succeed to him in 1916, but the revelation of the Teapot Dome, presented as a scandal whereas it of it is nothing, and bearing on the concession of national oil fields to private owners, the conduit in front of the courts and destroyed the reputation of his newspaper, of which the sales and the advertizing revenues crumble, thus causing his bankruptcy.

In 1933, a banker of businesses, Eugene Meyer, repurchases the Post during an auction. If it does not have experience of journalist, it does not miss, on the other hand, of ideas on the way of managing an press agency. Under its direction indeed, pulling triples in ten years. In 1946, when Meyer is named first president of the World Bank, it passes the hand to Philip Graham, his son-in-law, before yielding to him, like in his daughter, Katharine Meyer Graham, the property of the newspaper, in 1948.

Philip Graham creates offices abroad. In 1954, it acquires of the Washington Times Herald and takes also a participation in the capital of the Los Angeles Times , in order to found an news agency intended to sell the same articles with these newspapers. In addition, the group diversifies its catches of interests, in particular with the purchase of radio stations and television channels. In 1961, it acquires Newsweek , and in 1967, the Post and the NewYork Times launch jointly the International Herald Tribune .

In the Seventies and Eighties, the group sells its last radio stations and acquires new television channels. It invests in the cable television by buying Legi-Slate, an online service which provides general and legal information. He becomes also owner of Kaplan Educational Centers, a school which ensures, inter alia, an extra teaching and delivers councils as regards looking for a job.

In 1993, the group creates DIGITAL Ink Company, intended to manage the development of the services of electronic information of the Post , primarily accessible on Internet. The 160 million pages seen monthly testifies some, this site of information is one of most complete in its sector. Setting on line of the newspaper of the day, follow-up of the topicality, files sets of themes… The site, created in 1996, attracts many Net surfers from abroad. Only the files of more than one week are paying.

A large newspaper of investigation

In 1971, its drafting publishes extracts of the “files of the Pentagon”, which reveal the lies whose US government made itself responsible during the war for Vietnam.

In 1972, two journalists of the Post , Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, reveal the Scandale of Watergate. This scandal leads the president Richard Nixon to the resignation and involves the judgment of several of his/her collaborators. The article which started this scandal will be worth the attribution of the Prix Pulitzer with the newspaper and the celebrity with her authors.

External bonds

www.washingtonpost.com, official site of the daily newspaper

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