Nashville Banner
Encyclopedia
The Nashville Banner is a defunct daily newspaper
of Nashville
, Tennessee
, United States
, which published from April 10, 1876 until February 20, 1998. The Banner was published each Monday through Friday afternoon (as well as Saturdays until the 1990s and Sundays until 1937), and at one time carried as many as five editions.
It was long a voice of conservative
viewpoints in contrast to its liberal
morning counterpart, The Tennessean
, although these views were greatly moderate
d in the paper's twilight years.
family.
The Banner was an evening paper, which at one time published as many as five editions (first, second, market final, sports final, and sunset final), although these were later consolidated into three editions, and eventually, two. For many years it was in a superior financial condition to its competitors, and in fact, when the rival Tennessean went bankrupt
and almost had to cease publication, the Banner assisted in its purchase by the Evans family, who saved it. The Tennessean and the Banner entered into what was one of the first joint operating agreements in the U.S. in 1937. Under this agreement, which became a common model for many other cities over the next half-century, the papers maintained editorial independence
and remained separate as news-gathering organizations. However, they were printed on the same presses, distributed by a common agent, and had a consolidated classified advertising
department. They were fierce competitors in the realm of news and ideas, but no longer business
competitors in the truest sense.
This arrangement stood both papers in good stead for many years. However, the Banner began to suffer in the post-World War II
era from the slow loss of readership that became common to most U.S. evening papers, which was largely attributed to the rise of television
.
Though the two papers shared many vital resources, they were vastly different in their editorial agendas. One memorable instance of such differences occurred during the mid-1960s as the merits of Daylight Saving Time
were being debated. The Tennessean/Banner offices, at the time, featured a dual-sided clock on the roof. One side had the Tennessean logo, the other had the Banners. Silliman Evans, Jr., owner of the Tennessean, supported DST and set its clock accordingly during the summer hours, but the Stahlman family, who controlled the Banner, opted to keep their side of the clock on standard time, causing confusion for the many drivers and pedestrians on busy Broadway.
In the early 1970s the Stahlmans sold the Banner to the Gannett Co. Gannett published it for several years, but in 1979 announced that it was assuming publication of the Tennessean while selling the Banner back to local owners Irby C. Simpkins, Jr., Brownlee O. Currey, and John Jay Hooker
(Hooker later sold his stake in the paper to Simpkins and Currey).
Although it took almost twenty years, this was the death knell for the Banner. It was now clearly inferior in resources to its morning counterpart, and its circulation continued to shrink. In the 1980s Gannett insisted on renegotiation of the joint operating agreement to its benefit, and the Banner had little choice but to comply. Another reason for the weakness of the Banner was its lack of a Sunday edition comparable to the Tennessean's, which it had given up in the formation of the joint operating agreement. It had since always published on a six-day schedule, and as weekday papers, especially evening weekday papers, continued to decline, it did not have this profit center to draw upon. The Banner switched its Saturday edition for a while to a single, morning edition in direct competition with the Tennessean, then announced that it was terminating its Saturday edition entirely.
During this time, the Banner began to take far more moderate positions on issues on its editorial pages, although it generally remained more conservative than the Tennessean in most areas. It was in the contradictory situation of probably becoming more respected by people, especially those in the journalism
community, at the same time that it was becoming less read.
The Banner adopted several new technologies soon before its demise, including early online efforts such as the launch of a daily e-mail newsletter ("Nashville Banner Digest") in 1996, as usage of e-mail
and the World Wide Web
was becoming more common. It also built and maintained a website nearly a year before The Tennessean, although only five months before the Banner went out of business. The Banner newsroom also became one of the nation's first to convert to the exclusive use of digital photography, completing the conversion just a few months before it ceased publication.
to be an antitrust
violation, but when Gannett attempted to do the same thing with its Honolulu Advertiser
and the evening paper in that joint operating agreement, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
, only a few months later, it was prosecuted as such, the merger was forestalled, and both papers continued to operate until 2010.)
The Banner's final edition was published on Friday, February 20, 1998. The announcement to close was made public the previous Monday, February 16. Several of the Banner's popular features and reporters, including columnists Mary Hance ("Ms. Cheap") and Joe Biddle (sports), immediately went to The Tennessean and remain there today. Longtime Banner sports editor Fred Russell
wrote a weekly column for The Tennessean for one year after the Banner folded. In doing so, Russell completed his 70th year in journalism.
Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations reports on Nashville Banner, March 1997 and June 1998.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
of Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which published from April 10, 1876 until February 20, 1998. The Banner was published each Monday through Friday afternoon (as well as Saturdays until the 1990s and Sundays until 1937), and at one time carried as many as five editions.
It was long a voice of conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
viewpoints in contrast to its liberal
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
morning counterpart, The Tennessean
The Tennessean
The Tennessean is the principal daily newspaper in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Its circulation area covers 39 counties in Middle Tennessee and eight counties in southern Kentucky....
, although these views were greatly moderate
Moderate
In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who is not extreme, partisan or radical. In recent years, political moderates has gained traction as a buzzword....
d in the paper's twilight years.
History
The first edition of the Nashville Banner was published on April 10, 1876 as The Nashville Republican Banner, and though it would drop the "Republican" early in its existence, its editorial agenda would resemble that of the political party for which it was initially named. It was begun as a voice for the railroads and other interests in comparison with other area papers of the time which tended to take the viewpoint of workers and unions. It was long controlled by Nashville's influential StahlmanJames Geddes Stahlman
James Geddes Stahlman was a Tennessee newspaper publisher and philanthropist.Stahlman earned his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 1919, and went on to be a member of the Board of Trustees for 43 years. He was a leader in the fundraising effort that helped build the Jean and...
family.
The Banner was an evening paper, which at one time published as many as five editions (first, second, market final, sports final, and sunset final), although these were later consolidated into three editions, and eventually, two. For many years it was in a superior financial condition to its competitors, and in fact, when the rival Tennessean went bankrupt
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
and almost had to cease publication, the Banner assisted in its purchase by the Evans family, who saved it. The Tennessean and the Banner entered into what was one of the first joint operating agreements in the U.S. in 1937. Under this agreement, which became a common model for many other cities over the next half-century, the papers maintained editorial independence
Editorial independence
Editorial independence is the freedom of editors to make decisions without interference from the owners of a publication. Editorial independence is tested, for instance, if a newspaper runs articles that may be unpopular with its advertising clientele....
and remained separate as news-gathering organizations. However, they were printed on the same presses, distributed by a common agent, and had a consolidated classified advertising
Classified advertising
Classified advertising is a form of advertising which is particularly common in newspapers, online and other periodicals which may be sold or distributed free of charge...
department. They were fierce competitors in the realm of news and ideas, but no longer business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
competitors in the truest sense.
This arrangement stood both papers in good stead for many years. However, the Banner began to suffer in the post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
era from the slow loss of readership that became common to most U.S. evening papers, which was largely attributed to the rise of television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
Though the two papers shared many vital resources, they were vastly different in their editorial agendas. One memorable instance of such differences occurred during the mid-1960s as the merits of Daylight Saving Time
Daylight saving time
Daylight saving time —also summer time in several countries including in British English and European official terminology —is the practice of temporarily advancing clocks during the summertime so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less...
were being debated. The Tennessean/Banner offices, at the time, featured a dual-sided clock on the roof. One side had the Tennessean logo, the other had the Banners. Silliman Evans, Jr., owner of the Tennessean, supported DST and set its clock accordingly during the summer hours, but the Stahlman family, who controlled the Banner, opted to keep their side of the clock on standard time, causing confusion for the many drivers and pedestrians on busy Broadway.
In the early 1970s the Stahlmans sold the Banner to the Gannett Co. Gannett published it for several years, but in 1979 announced that it was assuming publication of the Tennessean while selling the Banner back to local owners Irby C. Simpkins, Jr., Brownlee O. Currey, and John Jay Hooker
John Jay Hooker
John Jay Hooker, Jr. is a Nashville, Tennessee attorney, entrepreneur, perennial candidate and political gadfly.- Early life :John Jay Hooker was born to relative wealth and privilege in one of the Nashville area's more prominent families...
(Hooker later sold his stake in the paper to Simpkins and Currey).
During this time, the Banner began to take far more moderate positions on issues on its editorial pages, although it generally remained more conservative than the Tennessean in most areas. It was in the contradictory situation of probably becoming more respected by people, especially those in the journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
community, at the same time that it was becoming less read.
The Banner adopted several new technologies soon before its demise, including early online efforts such as the launch of a daily e-mail newsletter ("Nashville Banner Digest") in 1996, as usage of e-mail
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
and the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
was becoming more common. It also built and maintained a website nearly a year before The Tennessean, although only five months before the Banner went out of business. The Banner newsroom also became one of the nation's first to convert to the exclusive use of digital photography, completing the conversion just a few months before it ceased publication.
Closing
The end occurred when the Gannett Co. made the publishers of the Banner a large offer to terminate the joint operating agreement. The offer was approximately $65 million, likely more than any profit that could have been made by the continued publication of the Banner, so it ceased to exist. (Interestingly, this was not considered by the Justice DepartmentUnited States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
to be an antitrust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
violation, but when Gannett attempted to do the same thing with its Honolulu Advertiser
Honolulu Advertiser
The Honolulu Advertiser was a daily newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the largest daily newspaper in the American state of Hawaii. It published daily with special Sunday and Internet editions...
and the evening paper in that joint operating agreement, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin was a daily newspaper based in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the second largest daily newspaper in the state of Hawaii...
, only a few months later, it was prosecuted as such, the merger was forestalled, and both papers continued to operate until 2010.)
The Banner's final edition was published on Friday, February 20, 1998. The announcement to close was made public the previous Monday, February 16. Several of the Banner's popular features and reporters, including columnists Mary Hance ("Ms. Cheap") and Joe Biddle (sports), immediately went to The Tennessean and remain there today. Longtime Banner sports editor Fred Russell
Fred Russell
Fred Russell was an American sports writer prominent in the Golden Era of Sports in the 20th century...
wrote a weekly column for The Tennessean for one year after the Banner folded. In doing so, Russell completed his 70th year in journalism.
Archives
The archives of the Nashville Banner were donated to the Nashville Public Library. The collection features the entire archive, a vending machine with the final edition still displayed in the window, the many awards the paper won over the years, various trinkets from the paper's offices, and a bronze statue of a paperboy selling the Banner which was originally placed on the plaza in front of the Tennessean/Banner offices. The archive is located at the downtown Nashville Public Library on Church Street and is open to the public.Circulation history
A bit of gallows humor occasionally heard in the Banner newsroom, as a new obit came in, was: "There goes another reader." Figures from the newspaper's quarterly circulation audits illustrate how true the jibe became through the course of the 1990s, with readership dropping even as Nashville grew dramatically in population.| Calendar Quarter Ended | Avg. paid circ. | % change | cumul. change |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 29, 1991 | 61,746 | n/a | |
| March 29, 1992 | 60,768 | -1.58% | |
| June 28, 1992 | 59,282 | -2.45% | |
| August 7, 1992 | 58,089 | -2.01% | |
| September 27, 1992 | 59,120 | *Sat. edition dropped | |
| December 27, 1992 | 59,949 | 1.40% | -2.91% |
| March 28, 1993 | 58,416 | -2.56% | |
| June 27, 1993 | 56,579 | -3.14% | |
| September 26, 1993 | 56,447 | -0.23% | |
| June 27, 1993 | 56,579 | 0.23% | |
| September 26, 1993 | 56,447 | -0.23% | |
| December 26, 1993 | 56,021 | -0.75% | -9.27% |
| March 27, 1994 | 56,280 | 0.46% | |
| June 26, 1994 | 55,052 | -2.18% | |
| September 25, 1994 | 55,138 | 0.16% | |
| December 26, 1994 | 54,084 | -1.91% | -12.41% |
| March 27, 1995 | 52,769 | -2.43% | |
| June 26, 1995 | 52,793 | 0.05% | |
| September 25, 1995 | 51,180 | -3.06% | |
| December 31, 1995 | 50,814 | -0.72% | -17.70% |
| March 31, 1996 | 49,075 | -3.42% | |
| June 30, 1996 | 47,722 | -2.76% | |
| September 30, 1996 | 46,164 | -3.26% | |
| December 29, 1996 | 44,711 | -3.15% | -27.59% |
| March 30, 1997 | 44,031 | -1.52% | |
| June 29, 1997 | 42,660 | -3.11% | |
| September 28, 1997 | 41,541 | -2.62% | |
| December 27, 1997 | 40,466 | -2.59% | |
| December 28, 1997 to February 20, 1998 |
40,633 | 0.41% | -34.19% |
Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations reports on Nashville Banner, March 1997 and June 1998.
Notable contributors
- Ralph McGillRalph McGillRalph Emerson McGill , American journalist, was best known as the anti-segregationist editor and publisher of the Atlanta Constitution newspaper. He won a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing in 1959....
(sports editor) - Roy NeelRoy NeelRoy M. Neel is a Democratic Party operative who served as a top assistant to Vice President Al Gore and President Bill Clinton.-Biography:Raised in Smyrna, Tennessee, Neel joined the United States Navy and served a tour of duty in Vietnam as a photojournalist...
(lobbyist) - Fred RussellFred RussellFred Russell was an American sports writer prominent in the Golden Era of Sports in the 20th century...
(sports editor) - Christine SadlerChristine SadlerChristine Sadler , born in Silver Point, Putnam County, Tennessee, was an Americanauthor, journalist, and magazine editor.-Biography:...
(journalist) - Buster OlneyBuster OlneyRobert Stanbury "Buster" Olney III is a columnist for ESPN: The Magazine, ESPN.com, and covered the New York Giants and New York Yankees for The New York Times. He is also a regular analyst for the ESPN's Baseball Tonight...
(ESPN.com senior writer)
See also
- List of defunct newspapers of the United States
- The TennesseanThe TennesseanThe Tennessean is the principal daily newspaper in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Its circulation area covers 39 counties in Middle Tennessee and eight counties in southern Kentucky....
- The City PaperThe City PaperThe City Paper is a free weekly newspaper serving Nashville, Tennessee. The City Paper began publication as a daily paper on November 1, 2000, providing competition to The Tennessean, which was the only daily in town after the Nashville Banner closed in 1998...
External links
- February 2008 reminiscences on the 10th anniversary of the Banners closing, including personal essays from a former "Betty Banner" society reporter and a second-generation Banner journalist
- Archive of Nashville Banner's website with final story, published February 20, 1998
- An essay with images from the Nashville Banner Collection: John Egerton, "Walking into History: The Beginning of School Desegregation in Nashville," Southern Spaces, 4 May 2009.