In the late 19th century, when the Los Angeles Tribune name was first introduced to the National News ethos, Grover Cleveland was President of the United States; The first train load of oranges left Los Angeles via the transcontinental railroad, and the first issue of the paper was printed the same year the Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated. Fast forward about one hundred and thirty five years and to say that the world has changed substantially would be an understatement, let alone the news and media world. According to Pew Research Center newspaper circulation has been steeply declining for the better part of two decades and in 2021 general newspaper circulation hit an all-time low. The future is obvious; the industry is a changing game. With the wave of digital media, the once coveted world of print media is even more competitive than it used to be and thus a new wave of leaders are stepping up to adapt to the modern world that is moving at a speed we have never seen before.
With that in mind, as we examine the history of modern news and the inception of the field much credit is often given to the industrialists of New York. It was, after all, William Randolph Hearst who is most often cited as one of the fathers of what has turned into today’s news media.In addition, Joseph Pulitzer who inspired the coveted “Pulitzer Prize” is also another legend who made his mark in the big apple. And while the city of angels does get its fair share of credit for the impact Southern California has made in the motion picture industry through Hollywood, the impact the city has made for national news brands is often lost. And while our friends on the east coast get more credit there have been a long line of contributors from Los Angeles that even to this day are providing society with worthwhile public services. Few know for example that it was the Los Angeles Tribune that named a woman of color as the first national editor-in-chief in American History decades ago. Or that many important stories from World War I broke out from the Golden State that informed the rest of the nation.
This tradition still continues today as in recent years a media company secured the rights to the Los Angeles Tribune and under this new leadership they have been maintaining the reputation of a news brand of community centered integrity. This past year in additional to producing digital media, shows and other forms of content the Tribune spearheaded several major events as the primary sponsor that have included Leadership programs with the likes of Bob Proctor and Brian Tracy, Business programs with “Sharks” from the TV Show Shark Tank and even an all women’s event that showcased New York Times Bestselling authors, speakers and teachers that are committed to making a positive impact. This combination of creativity, art, entertainment and news is uniquely Los Angeles. We as a city should embrace our outlets and realize that even in national news brands the footprints of our culture are alive and well.
The Los Angeles Tribune is still very “L.A.” and that is a good thing.
