Electronic News
Encyclopedia
Electronic News was a publication that covered the semiconductor
production equipment industry. It was originally a weekly trade newspaper
, which covered all aspects of the electronics industry including semiconductors, computers, software, communications, space and even television electronics.
Fairchild Publications started the newspaper in 1957, as a complement to its other trade newspapers, including Women's Wear Daily
, Home Furnishing Daily, Supermarket News, among others. At its peak in 1984, Electronic News took in $25 million in revenue with margins above 50%. The following year, the newspaper began losing advertising and influence to rival Electronic Engineering Times, beginning a decline that eventually led to the newspaper's demise.
In 1971, journalist Don Hoefler
published a series of articles entitled "Silicon Valley, USA" in Electronic News. This is thought to be the first published use of the phrase Silicon Valley
to describe the area of the southern part of the San Francisco Bay area
in northern California
, USA, an area known for its concentration of companies making semiconductors, among them Intel, LSI Logic, National Semiconductor
.
Also in 1971, Electronic News was where Intel first advertised the Intel 4004
microprocessor, considered to be the first single-chip microprocessor
.
A decade later, in 1981, when IBM's top-secret Project Acorn emerged as the IBM Personal Computer - the PC - the first reports were published in Electronic News in the weeks before the introduction, much to IBM
's consternation. Also in 1982, Electronic News communications industry reporter Frank Barbetta broke the story on the Bell System Divestiture
which resulted in the break-up of American Telephone & Telegraph Company, and published the first interview with Judge Harold H. Greene
.
The paper eventually grew to have a staff of three dozen full time journalists, working out of headquarters staffed by full time journalists in New York
and bureaus in Boston
, Washington DC, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles
, Denver, Chicago
, Minneapolis and Tokyo
. In addition, stringers
reported in from more than 100 locations around the world.
In 1967, the paper's corporate parent, Fairchild Publications was acquired by Capital Cities Broadcasting
, which went on to acquire the American Broadcasting Company
, now a unit of The Walt Disney Company
. The publication was transferred from Fairchild to Chilton
, then a division of Capital Cities/ABC, as the result of a reorganization. After barely a year as part of Chilton, the paper was in 1991 sold to the publishing house International Data Group. After a year of losses, IDG sold the paper in 1993 to an independent investor group put together by one-time publisher Zachary Dicker. In 1996 the paper was sold to its current owner Reed Business Information
.
The final edition of Electronic News to be printed on paper was dated December 2, 2002. It has since that date been published exclusively online. It was later merged into EDN.
Semiconductor industry
The semiconductor industry is the aggregate collection of companies engaged in the design and fabrication of semiconductor devices. It formed around 1960, once the fabrication of semiconductors became a viable business...
production equipment industry. It was originally a weekly trade newspaper
Trade journal
A trade magazine, also called a professional magazine, is a magazine published with the intention of target marketing to a specific industry or type of trade. The collective term for this area of publishing is the trade press....
, which covered all aspects of the electronics industry including semiconductors, computers, software, communications, space and even television electronics.
Fairchild Publications started the newspaper in 1957, as a complement to its other trade newspapers, including Women's Wear Daily
Women's Wear Daily
Women's Wear Daily is a fashion-industry trade journal sometimes called "the bible of fashion." WWD delivers information and intelligence on changing trends and breaking news in the fashion, beauty and retail industries with a readership composed largely of retailers, designers, manufacturers,...
, Home Furnishing Daily, Supermarket News, among others. At its peak in 1984, Electronic News took in $25 million in revenue with margins above 50%. The following year, the newspaper began losing advertising and influence to rival Electronic Engineering Times, beginning a decline that eventually led to the newspaper's demise.
In 1971, journalist Don Hoefler
Don Hoefler
Don C. Hoefler was an American journalist who coined the term "Silicon Valley". His friend Ralph Vaerst suggested the name "Silicon Valley" in a series of articles entitled "Silicon Valley, USA" in the weekly trade newspaper Electronic News starting on January 11, 1971.From the mid 1970s until his...
published a series of articles entitled "Silicon Valley, USA" in Electronic News. This is thought to be the first published use of the phrase Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
to describe the area of the southern part of the San Francisco Bay area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
in northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
, USA, an area known for its concentration of companies making semiconductors, among them Intel, LSI Logic, National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor was an American semiconductor manufacturer, that specialized in analog devices and subsystems,formerly headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. The products of National Semiconductor included power management circuits, display drivers, audio and operational amplifiers,...
.
Also in 1971, Electronic News was where Intel first advertised the Intel 4004
Intel 4004
The Intel 4004 was a 4-bit central processing unit released by Intel Corporation in 1971. It was the first complete CPU on one chip, and also the first commercially available microprocessor...
microprocessor, considered to be the first single-chip microprocessor
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
.
A decade later, in 1981, when IBM's top-secret Project Acorn emerged as the IBM Personal Computer - the PC - the first reports were published in Electronic News in the weeks before the introduction, much to IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
's consternation. Also in 1982, Electronic News communications industry reporter Frank Barbetta broke the story on the Bell System Divestiture
Bell System divestiture
The Bell System divestiture, or the breakup of AT&T, was initiated by the filing in 1974 by the U.S. Department of Justice of an antitrust lawsuit against AT&T. The case, United States v...
which resulted in the break-up of American Telephone & Telegraph Company, and published the first interview with Judge Harold H. Greene
Harold H. Greene
Harold Herman Greene was a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia...
.
The paper eventually grew to have a staff of three dozen full time journalists, working out of headquarters staffed by full time journalists in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and bureaus in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Washington DC, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Denver, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Minneapolis and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. In addition, stringers
Stringer (journalism)
In journalism, a stringer is a type of freelance journalist or photographer who contributes reports or photos to a news organization on an ongoing basis but is paid individually for each piece of published or broadcast work....
reported in from more than 100 locations around the world.
In 1967, the paper's corporate parent, Fairchild Publications was acquired by Capital Cities Broadcasting
Capital Cities Communications
Capital Cities redirects here. For the article about the seat of a government, see Capital .Capital Cities Communications was an American media company best known for its surprise purchase of the much larger American Broadcasting Company in 1985...
, which went on to acquire the American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, now a unit of The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
. The publication was transferred from Fairchild to Chilton
Chilton Publishing Company
Chilton Company is a former publishing company, most famous for its trade magazines, and automotive manuals. It also provided conference and market research services to a wide variety of industries...
, then a division of Capital Cities/ABC, as the result of a reorganization. After barely a year as part of Chilton, the paper was in 1991 sold to the publishing house International Data Group. After a year of losses, IDG sold the paper in 1993 to an independent investor group put together by one-time publisher Zachary Dicker. In 1996 the paper was sold to its current owner Reed Business Information
Reed Business Information
Reed Business Information is a large business publisher in the United States, United Kingdom, continental Europe, Australia and Asia, often referred to as RBI...
.
The final edition of Electronic News to be printed on paper was dated December 2, 2002. It has since that date been published exclusively online. It was later merged into EDN.