The Detroit Free Press Newspaper, also known as the Freep, is the main source for news and information in metro Detroit. It is one of the most widely circulated newspapers in the United States.
It was founded in 1831 when the small frontier town of Detroit had 2,500 people. It championed statehood for Michigan and was among the first American papers to publish a Sunday edition.
The History-The Detroit Free Press
Wolves roamed the countryside and the small frontier town of Detroit had 2,500 people when Sheldon McKnight began publishing The Free Press on May 5, 1831. His newspaper espoused Jacksonian principles and printed content that was vehemently anti-abolitionist and filled with derogatory terms for African Americans. It was the mouthpiece for a regressive political philosophy that faded with the times and changed hands over the years.
The Detroit Free Press News’ editorials often were as caustic as its pages. In 1939, a crusade against mob-controlled illegal gambling prompted a special prosecutor and 360 indictments, including 75 City Hall officials. The The Detroit Free Press ran the names of the indictees daily for a month.
In the ’70s, several women staffers, led by Mary Lou Butcher, sued the paper for sex discrimination. It was eventually settled for $330,000.
In 1989, the Knight-Ridder-owned Free Press and the Gannett-owned News entered into a one hundred year joint operating agreement. The two papers shared business operations and split profits but kept separate editorial staffs. They also published a joint weekend edition until May 7, 2006. The two newspapers continue to publish separately today.
The Design
Brian Kostrzewski, a longtime Free Press art director who oversaw the renovation, says the goal was to transform the building into an open work environment that “feels like a living room.” Throughout, dPop designers have created a visual tie to The News’ past. That includes translucent lamp shades covered with old ads and a steel “conveyer belt” running along many ceilings that mimics the look of printing-press conveyers. The conference tables, for instance, are topped with wood reclaimed from the former News building. All signage—including a picture of old newspaper carriers printed right on the conference table—was crafted by Livonia’s Jiffy Signs.
The blocklong limestone building was designed by Albert Kahn for News publisher George G. Booth and built in 1925. The fourth-floor library and editor’s office retain their original wooden walls and half-circle shaped windows, but the two floors below are unrecognizable as the home of the paper that once competed in southeastern Michigan for readership with the neighboring Detroit News. Today, those bottom floors are wide-open office space where employees of Quicken Loans and Molina Healthcare now gather.
In 1987, the competing newspapers entered into a one hundred-year joint operating agreement that merged business operations but retained separate editorial staffs. That arrangement, which was approved by the U.S. attorney general, saved the newspapers from financial collapse and allowed them to continue publishing as a daily competitor in southeastern Michigan.
The Editorials
The editorials in the The Detroit Free Press are generally pro-business, conservative and often critical of public institutions. The paper is noted for its coverage of government inefficiency and corruption, including the plight of Detroit’s police force and a city council that is allegedly too close to business interests. The paper also takes a strong stand against abortion and against gun control.
The newspaper’s website features a variety of articles on a wide range of topics, including news, multimedia, arts, lifestyle, music, movies, and sports. Its classifieds section includes ads for cars, homes, jobs and shopping. In addition, the newspaper publishes reports and articles on politics, health, food, multimedia, entertainment and business.
In a rare move, the Detroit Free Press and its archrival The News joined forces in 1989 to form the Detroit Media Partnership, combining business operations while maintaining separate editorial staffs. The two newspapers also published combined Saturday and Sunday editions.
The newspaper’s website features a searchable archive of past articles. It also offers a free e-edition that can be viewed online, with articles beginning with A and numbered through A32. In addition to the e-edition, many local libraries have microfilm copies of The Detroit Free Press available. The e-edition is easy to navigate and seems user friendly. The newspaper’s website is also easy to use, with navigation based on the sections: Metro + Nation + World, Life, etc.
The Advertising
Founded in 1831, The Detroit Free Press is a newspaper that focuses on local news and is owned by Gannett. The Detroit Free Press has a strong following in Michigan and is known for its in-depth reporting. It also offers a variety of subscription options, including digital and print. The newspaper has received positive reviews from readers for its investigative journalism and ability to provide a local perspective on national news.
2.1 Advertiser shall deliver Ads to Publisher by the applicable deadline specified in this Agreement, via a transmission method mutually agreed upon between the parties. Advertiser shall have the right to change any of its Ads after submission, provided that such changes are delivered to Publisher by the applicable deadline.
Advertiser will pay Publisher’s Standard Rates for the Advertising Services purchased hereunder. The rates are subject to change from time to time, with prior notice being given to Advertiser. Advertiser may also be responsible for paying any applicable taxes or other charges relating to the Advertising Services.
By submitting any Ad to Publisher, the Advertiser represents and warrants that such Advertiser is duly authorized to sign this Agreement on behalf of the applicable advertiser and has the full power to bind such advertiser to the terms and conditions hereof. In the event that Advertiser fails to make any payment due to Publisher, such failure shall constitute a breach of this Agreement and may result in cancellation of any or all Advertisement Services hereunder by Publisher.
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